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Primary Cardiac Angiosarcoma in a Middle Aged Woman
Rozita Jalalian1, Farshad Naghshvar2, Valiollah Habibi3
1Department of Cardiology, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, IR Iran.
Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal
|September 2, 2015
Summary
A rare primary cardiac angiosarcoma presented as lung emboli in a middle-aged woman. The large right atrial tumor was unresectable, highlighting the challenges in diagnosing and treating this aggressive heart cancer.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Oncology
- Pathology
Background:
- Primary cardiac angiosarcoma is a rare malignancy, predominantly affecting adults in their 3rd and 4th decades.
- The right atrium is the most common site for cardiac angiosarcomas, often leading to delayed symptom presentation.
Observation:
- A 56-year-old woman presented with symptoms of pulmonary embolism.
- Echocardiography revealed a large, multilobulated mass ( >10 cm) in the right atrium extending into the right ventricle and outflow tract.
- The tumor infiltrated the right atrial wall and invaded the pericardial space.
Findings:
- The cardiac angiosarcoma was deemed unresectable.
- An incisional biopsy was performed for diagnosis.
- The patient received palliative chemotherapy.
Implications:
- This case underscores the aggressive nature of primary cardiac angiosarcoma.
- Challenges in early diagnosis and surgical management of right atrial tumors are highlighted.
- Palliative chemotherapy offers a treatment option for unresectable cases.
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