Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2011; 59(3): 173-175
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1250342
Case Reports/Cardiac

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Primary Cardiac Lymphoma Causing Right Atrial Occlusion

M. Cikirikcioglu1 , V. C. Keil1 , S. M. Cherian1 , T. Theologou1 , P. Merlani2 , H. Muller3 , M.-J. Licker2 , A. Kalangos1
  • 1Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital and Medical Faculty of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
  • 2Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, University Hospital and Medical Faculty of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
  • 3Department of Cardiology, University Hospital and Medical Faculty of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
Further Information

Publication History

received June 23, 2010

Publication Date:
08 April 2011 (online)

Abstract

Primary cardiac lymphomas (PCL) are extremely rare, and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is a highly aggressive subtype. We report a case that was initially diagnosed as chronic right heart dysfunction. Detailed investigations revealed a large lobulated tumour occluding the right atrium, infiltrating the inter-atrial septum, the roof of the left atrium, and the aortic root. Despite adequate surgical debulking and initial successful tricuspid annuloplasty, the patient succumbed to multi-organ failure. Pathological analysis of the resected tumour confirmed a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with a proliferation rate of 100 %. What is unique about this case is the size of this rare cardiac tumour, which we believe to be one of the largest described in the literature for a purely intra-cardiac PCL, its aggressive growth rate, and the relatively mild symptomatology until a late stage of the disease.

References

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Dr. Mustafa Cikirikcioglu, M.D., Ph.D.

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery
University Hospital of Geneva

Rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil 4

1211 Geneva

Switzerland

Phone: +41 7 65 35 10 84

Fax: +41 2 23 72 76 35

Email: mustafa.cikirikcioglu@hcuge.ch