Right Atrium Primary Cardiac Lymphoma Causing Heart Failure.

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Oncology
• Pathology

Background:

• Primary cardiac tumors manifest diverse symptoms, including heart failure, embolization, and arrhythmias, contingent on tumor size and location.
• Early detection and accurate diagnosis are crucial for managing patients with cardiac neoplasms.

Observation:

• A patient presented with new-onset atrial fibrillation and heart failure, necessitating further investigation.
• Surgical exploration revealed the underlying cause to be a primary cardiac lymphoma.

Findings:

• Primary cardiac lymphoma, a rare malignancy, requires comprehensive evaluation including echocardiogram, CT angiography, and MRI.
• Histopathological diagnosis is essential for definitive characterization and treatment planning.

Implications:

• While rare, primary cardiac lymphoma demonstrates improved long-term survival outcomes with chemotherapy and rituximab compared to other cardiac malignancies.
• This case underscores the importance of considering lymphoma in the differential diagnosis of cardiac tumors presenting with heart failure symptoms.