Primary pulmonary artery sarcoma diagnosed noninvasively by two-dimensional echocardiography

A 21-year-old white male was evaluated in our echocardiographic laboratory for presumed mitral valvular bacterial endocarditis. Electrocardiographic, physical, and initial two-dimensional echocardiographic findings suggested a left-to-right shunt at the atrial septal level. However, injection of contrast saline solution failed to demonstrate signs of an atrial septal defect. Continuation of the echocardiographic study led to the diagnosis of an unsuspected primary sarcoma of the pulmonary trunk, which was rapidly confirmed by computerized axial tomography. Therapeutic interventions were undertaken. This case highlights the usefulness of two-dimensional echocardiography.