Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 17, 2026
06:26
Novel and Innovative Hybrid Technique for Type A Aortic Dissection
Published on: March 28, 2025
Cardiac angiosarcoma presenting with tamponade
Elie Chalhoub1, Bassam I Mattar, Wassim Shaheen
1Internal Medicine Department, The University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, USA. echalhoub@kumc.edu
Internal Medicine (Tokyo, Japan)
|October 16, 2012
Summary
Primary cardiac angiosarcoma, a rare but common heart tumor, can cause heart failure. Early diagnosis is crucial, as prognosis is often poor despite treatment.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Oncology
- Pathology
Background:
- Primary cardiac angiosarcoma is the most common primary malignant cardiac tumor, though rare overall.
- It can present insidiously, mimicking other conditions.
Observation:
- A 51-year-old man presented with acute right heart failure due to pericardial tamponade.
- Initial pericardiocentesis yielded bloody fluid with negative pathology.
- Echocardiography revealed a right atrial mass.
Findings:
- The patient was diagnosed with cardiac angiosarcoma.
- Despite surgery and chemotherapy, the patient died seven months post-diagnosis.
Implications:
- Cardiac angiosarcoma must be considered in the differential diagnosis of bloody pericardial effusions, even with initially negative investigations.
- The prognosis for cardiac angiosarcoma is typically poor.
- Treatment involves surgical resection, potentially combined with neoadjuvant/adjuvant chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Pericarditis IV: Nursing Management
Pericarditis, an inflammation of the pericardium, necessitates diligent nursing management to ensure effective patient care and recovery. The initial step in managing pericarditis is a comprehensive patient medical assessment.The patient reports chest pain aggravated by breathing, coughing, and swallowing, which worsens when lying supine. The pain often improves when sitting up and leaning forward. Additional symptoms may include fever, malaise, and, in severe cases, signs of heart failure.
01:21Aneurysm II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
Thoracic, aortic arch and abdominal aneurysms are significant vascular conditions that can present with various clinical manifestations and lead to serious complications. Understanding these manifestations and the appropriate diagnostic studies is essential for effective management and treatment.Thoracic Aortic AneurysmsThoracic aortic aneurysms often remain asymptomatic until they reach a size that impinges on adjacent structures. They typically cause deep, diffuse chest pain that radiates to...
01:28Cardiomyopathy VII: Pre and Post Operative Nursing Management
Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction who remain symptomatic despite optimal medical therapy may undergo a septal myectomy (Morrow procedure). This procedure involves excising a portion of the hypertrophied septum below the aortic valve using a heart-lung machine to improve blood flow through the LVOT. Effective preoperative and postoperative nursing management ensures successful patient outcomes, minimizes complications, and...
01:17Pericarditis III: Medical Management
The primary objectives of managing pericarditis are to determine the underlying cause, provide effective therapy for treatment and symptom relief, and promptly detect signs and symptoms of cardiac tamponade. The following outlines the essential aspects of medical management for pericarditis:ObjectivesDetermine the Cause: Identifying the underlying cause of pericarditis is crucial for targeted treatment. Causes include viral infections, autoimmune diseases, post-cardiac injury syndrome, and...
01:26Aneurysm III: Interprofessional Care
Aneurysm management involves either conservative medical therapy or surgical intervention, depending on the size and symptoms of the aneurysm. Conservative management is generally reserved for smaller, asymptomatic aneurysms, while larger or symptomatic aneurysms often necessitate surgical repair.Conservative Medical TherapyFor small, asymptomatic aneurysms, particularly abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) less than 5.5 centimeters in diameter, conservative medical therapy is recommended. This...
01:17Aortic Regurgitation IV: Nursing Management
A nurse managing a patient with aortic regurgitation begins with a comprehensive assessment, including a review of the patient's medical history, family history, and lifestyle factors. During the cardiac examination, the nurse listens for heart sounds and checks for signs of valve abnormalities. The nurse also observes for symptoms such as dyspnea, orthopnea, and paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea and assesses the patient's endurance and daily activity tolerance.Based on the findings, the nurse...