Cardiac Amyloidosis in the Setting of a Sarcomatous Pericardial Mass

Khaled Deeb1, Anatoliy Korzhuk1

  • 1Internal Medicine, West Palm Beach VA Medical Center, West Palm Beach, USA.

Cureus
|July 24, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Cardiac amyloidosis, often underdiagnosed, presents with restrictive heart physiology. This case highlights a sarcomatous pericardial mass complicating diagnosis, emphasizing early testing for this condition.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Oncology
  • Radiology

Background:

  • Cardiac amyloidosis is a frequently underdiagnosed condition.
  • Restrictive heart physiology is a key indicator for suspecting cardiac amyloidosis.
  • Diagnostic challenges arise with co-existing conditions.

Observation:

  • A patient presented with progressive diastolic heart failure.
  • A sarcomatous pericardial mass was identified, complicating the clinical picture.
  • Diagnostic workup involved serial transthoracic echocardiogram, functional MRI, and technetium-99m pyrophosphate scintigraphy.

Findings:

  • Amyloidosis was diagnosed despite a negative initial lab workup.
  • The interplay between the sarcomatous pericardial mass and amyloidosis was explored.
  • Multifaceted challenges in patient care were encountered due to the dual diagnoses.

Implications:

  • Early diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis is crucial for timely intervention.
  • Advanced imaging modalities are vital for complex cases.
  • Emerging therapies, such as transthyretin stabilizers, show promise in reducing mortality.

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