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Isolation and Characterization of Cardiac Mesenchymal Stromal Cells from Endomyocardial Bioptic Samples of Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy Patients
09:16

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Published on: February 28, 2018

Acute myocardial infarction as a complication of cardiac sarcoma: a rare presentation

Ajay Vallakati1, Vijay Shetty, Jacob Shani

  • 1Department of Medicine, Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York, USA. ajayvhs@yahoo.com

The Journal of Invasive Cardiology
|October 9, 2012
PubMed

Insights

A rare left atrial sarcoma mimicked acute myocardial infarction. Echocardiography revealed a left atrial mass, suggesting coronary emboli as the cause of infarction in this unique cardiac sarcoma case.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Oncology
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Cardiac sarcomas are rare primary tumors of the heart.
  • Myocardial infarction (MI) is typically caused by coronary artery disease.
  • Left atrial masses can have various etiologies, including thrombus, tumors, and vegetations.

Observation:

  • A patient presented with symptoms consistent with acute myocardial infarction.
  • Echocardiography identified a significant mass within the left atrium.
  • Coronary angiography showed no evidence of atherosclerotic disease.

Findings:

  • The left atrial mass was diagnosed as sarcoma.
  • The presentation mimicked acute myocardial infarction, likely due to coronary emboli from the tumor.
  • A history of splenic infarct was noted incidentally.

Implications:

  • This case highlights the importance of considering rare cardiac tumors in the differential diagnosis of myocardial infarction.
  • Left atrial sarcoma can present atypically, posing diagnostic challenges.
  • Early recognition and diagnosis are crucial for appropriate management of cardiac sarcomas.

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