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Secondary Cardiac Involvement From Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma: A Case Report
Gloria Akimana1, Bouthayna Mesmoudi2, Mohammed Benasser2
1Department of Medical Oncology, National Institute of Oncology, Mohammed V University, Rabat, MAR.
Insights
Cardiac metastases, particularly from lymphoma, are rare and often found incidentally during imaging for cancer staging. Diagnosis relies on imaging due to difficult biopsy, and treatment for these lymphomatous heart involvements carries a poor prognosis.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cardiology
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Cardiac metastases are a rare clinical finding, frequently identified post-mortem.
- Lymphoma is a common primary cancer associated with secondary heart involvement.
- Clinical presentation is often asymptomatic, with general symptoms linked to the primary malignancy.
Observation:
- This case highlights the discovery of cardiac involvement during staging assessments for lymphoma via imaging.
- Clinically, cardiac metastases are often asymptomatic, with general symptoms usually stemming from the primary malignancy.
Findings:
- Histological confirmation via biopsy is infrequently achievable.
- Diagnosis is typically established through imaging, especially in the context of widespread cancer.
Implications:
- The management of lymphomatous cardiac metastases often involves medical therapy.
- The prognosis for patients with cardiac involvement from lymphoma remains poor, underscoring the need for improved therapeutic strategies.
Abstract:
The cardiac localization of metastases is a rare condition, most often found on autopsy. Lymphoma is among the primary cancers often involved, as was the case for our patient in whom cardiac involvements were discovered during the extension assessment by imaging. Clinically asymptomatic in the majority of cases, we mainly find general symptoms related to the primary disease. Because histological diagnosis is rarely possible by biopsy, confirmation is made by imaging in the context of disseminated disease. The treatment of cardiac involvements of lymphomatous origin is often medical with a poor prognosis.
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