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Intracardiac diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: an unexpected diagnosis
Komeil Alattar1, Sagar Dodhia2, Chieh-Yin Huang2
1Darent Valley Hospital, Dartford, UK komeil.alattar1@nhs.net.
BMJ Case Reports
|June 24, 2024
Summary
Intracardiac lymphoma, a rare cardiac tumor, is challenging to diagnose. This case highlights successful diagnosis and treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in the heart using advanced imaging and chemotherapy.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Oncology
- Radiology
Background:
- Intracardiac lymphomas are rare primary cardiac tumors, often diagnosed late due to non-specific symptoms.
- Historically, diagnosis frequently occurred post-mortem, underscoring diagnostic challenges.
Observation:
- A fit, active woman in her 60s presented with exertional dyspnea.
- Multimodal imaging (echocardiogram, cardiac MRI, CT, PET-CT) and biopsy were crucial for diagnosis.
Findings:
- The diagnosis was confirmed as intracardiac diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
- The patient showed an excellent radiological response to chemotherapy with near-complete mass resolution.
Implications:
- Early diagnosis and multimodal imaging are vital for managing rare intracardiac lymphomas.
- Chemotherapy can lead to significant improvement in symptoms and radiological outcomes for these rare tumors.
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