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DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-989292
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York
Angiosarcoma of the Right Atrium Masquerading as Recurrent Pulmonary Embolism
Publication History
Received May 3, 2007
Publication Date:
14 November 2008 (online)
Introduction
Cardiac angiosarcoma represents a rare primary cardiac malignancy that accounts for less than 10 % of resected tumors involving the heart. The potential for cardiac neoplasms to mimic pulmonary thromboembolism makes differentiating these two diseases challenging. There are no reliable clinical or laboratory markers that help distinguish malignant from benign disease and consequently a significant number of cases remain incorrectly diagnosed in spite of worsening symptoms.
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Dr. MB, MRCPI Dermot Stephen O'Callaghan
Department of Cardiology, Respiratory Medicine and Cardiothoracic Surgery
St. James's Hospital
James's St.
Dublin 8
Ireland
Phone: + 353 (0) 14 16 21 96
Fax: + 353 (0) 14 10 35 49
Email: dsocallaghan@yahoo.com