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.
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.
Abstract:
Cardiac amyloidosis is a significantly underdiagnosed disease but should be suspected in anyone with restrictive heart physiology. Here, we present a case of a sarcomatous pericardial mass confounding the patient's progressive diastolic heart failure. Amyloidosis was eventually discovered by piecing together serial transthoracic echocardiogram, functional MRI, and technetium-99m (99mTc) pyrophosphate scintigraphy findings along with a negative lab workup. The presence of the sarcomatous pericardial mass raised the question of whether it played a role in the onset and progression of amyloidosis, but nonetheless, the presence of both diseases rendered multifaceted challenges regarding our patient's care. Anyone suspected to have amyloidosis should receive appropriate testing for a definitive diagnosis to catch the disease process and offer early treatment, as exciting research is emerging showing transthyretin stabilizers to have a reduction in all-cause mortality.
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