Metastatic cardiac papillary carcinoma originating from the thyroid in both ventricles with a mobile right ventricular pedunculated tumor

A 62-year-old man with a history of surgical therapy for papillary thyroid carcinoma was admitted because of chest pain, dyspnea on effort, pretibial edema, and slight fever. An electrocardiogram showed ST segment elevation in the precordial leads and low voltage in the limb leads. A large solid mass was demonstrated in both ventricles, with pericardial effusion, by echocardiography, thoracic computed tomography scan, transesophageal echocardiography, and angiography. A punch biopsy of the tumor revealed metastatic papillary carcinoma. During radiation therapy, the patient suddenly died of ventricular fibrillation. At autopsy, the tumor occupied almost the entire right ventricular cavity, expanding toward the main trunk of the pulmonary artery with a mobile peduncle and it had infiltrated the left ventricular wall through the interventricular septum. Microscopic examination confirmed metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma. Only 2 other cases of cardiac metastases of papillary thyroid carcinoma have been reported and this case is the first report of metastases in both ventricles with a mobile right ventricular pedunculated tumor.     

Right-sided infective mural endocarditis complicated by septic pulmonary embolism and cardiac tamponade caused by MSSA

The appearance of right-sided mural infective endocarditis has rarely been reported. Here, we report the case of a 40-year-old male with a history of alcoholic liver disease who presented with a partial loss of consciousness and fever. Chest computed tomography scans showed multiple pulmonary infiltration sites and cavities. A repeat transthoracic echocardiogram detected a vegetation on the right ventricular surface of the interventricular septum middle segment, as well as pericardial effusion. Blood, pericardial fluid, sputum, and scalp effusion cultures were positive for methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus. We diagnosed the patient with infective mural endocarditis complicated by septic pulmonary embolism, pericardial effusion, and cardiac tamponade. The patient was successfully treated with pericardiocentesis and appropriate antibiotics. Right-sided mural endocarditis complicated by pericardial effusion and cardiac tamponade is an uncommon condition in clinical practice. This case confirms the usefulness of transthoracic echocardiography in the early recognition of primary mural endocarditis and its associated complications.     

Primary cardiac sarcoma: two case reports

Two case reports of primary cardiac sarcoma, which is uncommon, are presented. The first case, a 38-year-old male, complained of chest tightness. Chest roentgenograms showed enlargement of the cardiac shadow and left pleural effusion. Transthoracic echocardiography and chest magnetic resonance imaging showed a tumor in the right atrium, and pericardial effusion. The tumor involved the right atrial wall and interatrial septum, and was partially resected. Pathohistological examination revealed angiosarcoma. He died 1 month later. The second case, a 19-year-old male complained of dyspnea and orthopnea. Chest roentgenograms showed pulmonary congestion. Transthoracic echocardiography showed a large mobile mass in the left atrium. An emergency operation was performed and the tumor was totally resected. Pathohistological examination demonstrated leiomyosarcoma. The postoperative course was uneventful, but the tumor rapidly recurred. Second and third operations were performed at intervals of 2 months. After the third operation, he was treated with radiotherapy. Local recurrence was not found but multiple distant metastases were found 2 months after completion of radiation therapy.     

Diagnosis of cardiac tumor by percutaneous thromboaspiration. A case report

Percutaneous endovascular thromboaspiration is a valuable tool as illustrated by the case of a patient suffering from a large intracardiac tumour. Histological and immuno-histochemical analysis of the tumour fragments provided the diagnosis of a cardiac angiosarcoma. The patient was a 44 year old man admitted for a large sero-sanguinous pericardial effusion which recurred after drainage. The case was complicated by a haemorrhagic cerebrovascular accident unrelated to a secondary deposit. Initially suspected after transthoracic echocardiography, the diagnosis of a tumour invading the right atrium was confirmed by transoesophageal echocardiography and cardiac CT scan. Surgery was declined and as the diagnosis of lymphoma could not be excluded, the patient underwent biopsy by an original method of percutaneous thromboaspiration. This minimally invasive, low cost technique would appear to be a valuable alternative to other endovascular biopsy techniques (saber, biotome) and to surgical biopsy, and could be proposed as the technique of first intent in an a priori non-operable intra-cardiac tumour or when lymphoma is suspected.     

Cyanosis caused by a huge obstructive right ventricular fibroma

Cardiac fibromas are rare lesions which occur more often in infants and children than in adults. These tumors are benign proliferations of connective tissue most often found in the left ventricular myocardium or septum. In an 8-month-old infant with cyanosis and progressive exertional dyspnea, a huge cardiac tumor obstructing the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) was diagnosed by means of 2-dimensional echocardiography and cardiac catheterization. At surgery, a whitish gray solitary tumor measuring 5.0 x 4.5 cm could be well visualized. It was nearly totally resected, and the RVOT was reconstructed with an Equine pericardial patch. Histologic examination classified the tumor as a fibroma. Although surgical mortality in cardiac fibroma with RVOT obstruction is extremely high, early diagnosis and prompt excision of the tumor is mandatory in relieving its dangerous symptoms.     

Multimodality Imaging in the Assessment of Cardiac Lymphoma Presented as New‐Onset Atrial Fibrillation

Cardiac involvement by non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma is not uncommon, however rarely diagnosed during life due to nonspecific clinical presentation. We report a case of secondary cardiac lymphoma in patient who presented with new‐onset atrial fibrillation. Cardiac lymphoma was in a form of bulky right atrial mass, infiltrating the atrial septum and cavo‐atrial junction with concomitant mild pericardial effusion. In the present case, we illustrate complementary role of transthoracic, transesophageal echocardiography and multislice CT scan with three‐dimensional reconstruction, in detection and evaluation of secondary cardiac tumor. Usefulness of echocardiography to follow up the effects of chemotherapy is also shown. (Echocardiography 2010;27:332‐336)     

Primary angiosarcoma of the right atrium detected by magnetic resonance imaging.

A 20-year-old woman with a primary angiosarcoma of the right atrium is reported. The patient had a cardiorespiratory arrest due to cardiac tamponade with bloody pericardial effusion. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a tumor, which was corroborated by selective coronary angiography. Open-heart surgery was performed. The tumor relapsed however, and she died four months after operation. The tumor was undetectable by echocardiography, but MRI demonstrated a heterogeneous mass with focal areas of high- and low-signal intensity in the right atrium, suggesting that MRI may allow characterization of cardiac tumors.     

Aorta-to-right ventricular fistula due to pectus bar migration

A 23-year-old man, operated on for pectus excavatum with a modified Ravitch procedure, was admitted to our emergency department suffering from severe dyspnea. Massive pericardial effusion, rupture of the sinus of Valsalva, and aortic-to-right ventricular fistula were present on echocardiography. Cardiac penetration of the metal bar was detected on chest CT scan. The defect at the right sinus of Valsalva was closed with a PTFE patch, and the right aortic and ventricular ruptures were repaired primarily.     

Chronic intractable pericardial effusion associated with pulmonary hypertension: report of two cases

We report two cases of chronic intractable pericardial effusion associated with pulmonary hypertension. Case 1. A 35-year-old women was admitted to our hospital because of dyspnea and edema. Chest X-ray examination showed enlargement of cardiac, and pulmonary artery shadow. An electrocardiogram with high voltage of R in V1 and deep S in V5 suggested right ventricular hypertrophy. Pericardial echo-free space with dilated right ventricle was demonstrated by echocardiography. Cardiac catheterization revealed an elevated pulmonary systolic pressure of 120 mmHg. No intracardiac shunt was calculated. A diagnosis of primary pulmonary hypertension was made. Pericardial drainage diminished pericardial effusion. Soon after discharge, however, pericardial effusion increased and the patient died. Case 2. A 65-year-old man was admitted because of dyspnea. The findings of chest X-ray and echocardiography were essentially the same as Case 1. Pericardial effusion disappeared after pericardiocentesis, but appeared again one month later. Cardiac catheterization demonstrated an elevated pulmonary systolic pressure of 73 mmHg. Pulmonary-capillary-wedge pressure was normal. Pulmonary arteriogram showed occlusion of the pulmonary artery trees. A diagnosis of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension was made. Although diuretics and vasodilators decreased pulmonary-artery pressure, pericardial effusion was unchanged. We compared these two cases with 11 control patients of pulmonary hypertension without pericardial effusion. Venous pressure was higher than that in the controls in Case 1, but not different in Case 2. Thus, venous pressure did not fully account for pericardial effusion. In summary, chronic pulmonary hypertension should be added to the list of conditions known to cause pericardial effusion. In these cases, echocardiography revealed important signs, and cardiac catheterization was essential for definite diagnosis. Pericardial effusion associated with pulmonary hypertension was refractory to diuretics and vasodilators.     

Pericardial effusion in renal disease: to tap or not to tap

The natural history of pericardial effusions attributable to renal disease is variable. Although aggressive hemodialysis may lead to the resolution of some effusions, some reports suggest that prompt drainage is optimal. We describe a case of a 49-year-old woman who presented with end-stage renal disease and a large pericardial effusion. Although she was hypertensive on presentation and had no pulsus paradoxus, transthoracic echocardiography revealed stigmata of cardiac tamponade, including right atrial and ventricular collapse, as well as a plethoric inferior vena cava. Because of the lack of certain clinical signs of tamponade and due to concern about excess bleeding risk in the setting of uremia, the effusion was initially managed with serial dialysis rather than pericardiocentesis. The effusion did not decrease in size despite 1 week of hemodialysis, and the patient developed acute dyspnea, relative tachycardia and hypotension after an increase in the blood flow rate during hemodialysis, all of which resolved with a decrease in the blood flow rate. The onset of dyspnea during a session of dialysis as a symptom of tamponade physiology has not been reported previously. We believe that this case supports early pericardiocentesis in patients with any degree of echocardiographic evidence of tamponade. We discuss this in the context of existing literature, which suggests that pericardiocentesis, rather than dialysis, is the preferred management strategy for large uremic pericardial effusions, even in the absence of evidence of clinical signs of pericardial tamponade.     

Comparison of Doppler and two-dimensional echocardiography for assessment of pericardial effusion.

Respiratory changes in left ventricular inflow velocities by Doppler echocardiography have been used to assess cardiac tamponade; however, Doppler echocardiography has not been compared to right atrial or right ventricular collapse. Pulsed Doppler echocardiography of left ventricular inflow velocities was performed with respiratory monitoring in 28 patients with small to large pericardial effusions. Ten of the 17 patients (59%) with large effusions had equalization of right-sided diastolic pressures before pericardial drainage. The measurements performed included percent change in left ventricular inflow peak early velocity, isovolumic relaxation time, change in inferior vena cava diameter from apnea to inspiration, and the presence of right atrial and right ventricular collapse. Percent change in early left ventricular inflow velocities significantly correlated with pericardial effusion size (p = 0.001) and right ventricular collapse (p = 0.007), and showed a trend with right atrial collapse (p = 0.10). Pericardial effusions with a left ventricular inflow velocity change > 22% were found to have right-sided equalization at a 95% confidence interval. Our data indicate that the respiratory changes in Doppler echocardiographic parameters are useful in the assessment of pericardial effusion and tamponade. This study concurs with the hypothesis that there is a continuum of hemodynamic compromise in pericardial effusion that is easily detected by Doppler echocardiography.     

Two dimensional echocardiographic recognition of the descending thoracic aorta: Value in differentiating pericardial from pleural effusions

The course of the descending thoracic aorta has recently been visualized with two dimensional echocardiography and its presence confirmed with contrast studies. In the parasternal short axis view, we used the location of the descending thoracic aorta to differentiate pericardial from pieural effusions in 40 patients. Sixteen patients, each with an isolated pericardial effusion, had an echo-free space between the descending thoracic aorta and left ventricular posterior wall. Nine patients, each with an isolated pleural effusion, had an echo-free space posterior to the descending aorta. Fifteen patients, each with both a pericardial and a pleural effusion, had echo-free spaces both between the descending thoracic aorta and left ventricular posterior wall and also posterior to the descending thoracic aorta. With one exception, all patients had anatomic confirmation of these findings. Forty-one patients undergoing cardiac surgery served as controls and none had a posterior echo-free space in relation to the descending thoracic aorta. At operation, no pericardial or pleural effusion was evident. The location of the descending thoracic aorta on two dimensional echocardiography serves as a valuable landmark in localizing the pericardial-pleural interface, thereby differentiating pericardial from pleural effusions.     

Primary effusion lymphoma complicating cardiac tamponade: a case report

A 76-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of exertional dyspnea and leg edema during the previous month. Her systolic blood pressure on admission was 80 mmHg with 12 mmHg of pulsus paradoxous, and her pulse rate was 110 beats/min. Chest radiography revealed marked cardiomegaly and echocardiography showed massive pericardial effusion mainly behind the left ventricle and collapse of the right ventricle. The initial diagnosis was pericardial tamponade. Pericardiocentesis and pericardial drainage revealed bloody pericardial effusion. After drainage, her vital signs improved and her symptoms immediately disappeared. The cytological analysis of the pericardial effusion revealed numerous lymphoma cells. Computed tomography of the neck, chest and abdomen showed no evidence of tumor masses, lymph node enlargement, or hepatosplenomegaly. Infectious disease, collagen disease and aortic dissection were excluded. The final diagnosis was primary effusion lymphoma. The prognosis of primary effusion lymphoma is generally unfavorable because it is frequently accompanied by immunodeficiency disease. However, there was no human immunodeficiency virus infection in this patient. Fortunately, the effect of chemotherapy was excellent and the patient is doing well 1 year after the diagnosis.     

Primary Cardiac Angiosarcoma

Primary malignant cardiac tumors are extremely rare neoplasms. About three-quarters of all cardiac tumors are histologically benign. A 24-year-old man presented to the hospital with dyspnea and chest pain. A solid, dense, nonhomogeneous and rough-surfaced mass (89 x 90 x 36 mm) with protrusion into the right heart cavities was observed on transthoracic echocardiography. The findings were confirmed by transesophageal echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging. The histopathology of the mass confirmed a diagnosis of angiosarcoma. No evidence of an extracardiac origin of the tumor was found by radiological body imaging. The patient died 2 months after presentation to the hospital.     

Primary Cardiac Angiosarcoma with Spontaneous Ruptures of the Right Atrium and Right Coronary Artery

Primary tumors of the heart are rarely seen. Cardiac angiosarcomas are malignant tumors that almost always have a poor prognosis. Atrium rupture and coronary artery fistula are very rare complications of primary cardiac angiosarcoma. We describe a 57‐year‐old man suffering from primary cardiac angiosarcoma with spontaneous ruptures of the right atrium and right coronary artery (RCA). Theoretically, either of these ruptures invariably results in pericardial effusion and tamponade that is rare but potentially life threatening. In this instance, however, the patient might have developed fibrous adhesions resulted from previous bloody pericardial effusion. A massive pericardial effusion was localized, which consequently prevented cardiac tamponade and hemodynamic collapse. Echocardiography revealed the tumor progression leading to detectable infiltration of solid mass into the right atrial (RA) wall, which is close to RCA. And color Doppler displayed the flow into the pericardial cavity through a disrupted RA wall and perforated RCA. Echocardiography remains the primary method of choice for evaluation of cardiac masses.     

Cardiac angiosarcoma with ruptured right atrium diagnosed by echocardiography

A 41-year-old man was admitted to our hospital complaining of right-sided chest pain. Two-dimensional echocardiographic examination revealed a ruptured right atrium and a localized pericardial effusion. Color Doppler echocardiography and contrast echocardiography showed blood flow from the right atrium into pericardial effusion, which was confirmed at emergency surgery. The pathologic specimen from the right atrium showed a spindle cell angiosarcoma.     

A case of chronic pancreatitis complicated by massive pericardial and right pleural effusion

A 42-year-old man was admitted complaining of dyspnea. Chest X-ray showed an increase in cardiac size, and echocardiography revealed a large volume of pericardial effusion. Pancreatic enzyme levels were elevated in both serum and pericardial effusion. Computed tomography and endoscopic retrograde pancreatography demonstrated a fistula connecting a pancreatic pseudocyst with the pericardium and the right pleural cavity. Massive pericardial and right pleural effusion is an extremely rare complication of chronic pancreatitis. In this case, computed tomography and endoscopic retrograde pancreatography were useful for diagnosing the fistula.     

Unexplained recurrent pericardial effusion: a lethal warning?

A case of a 37 year old man with cardiac angiosarcoma causing recurrent pericardial effusion, who eventually died of cardiac rupture, is presented. The diagnosis was not established until the postmortem examination despite echocardiography, pericardiocentesis, and pericardial biopsy investigations. There is neither a specific manifestation that enables early recognition nor well proven effective treatment against this disease. Accordingly, the prognosis of cardiac angiosarcoma remains grave. A high index of suspicion is recommended in patients who present with unexplained pericardial effusion.     

Ventricular tachycardia in an adolescent with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia

We report the case of an adolescent boy with exertional syncope and ventricular tachycardia caused by arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia. Diagnosis was determined by transthoracic echocardiography and definitive management with an automatic internal cardiac defibrillator. Emergency physicians must be aware of this serious but treatable cause of adolescent exertional syncope.     

Cardiac involvement in HIV-related non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: a case report and short review of the literature

 We report a case of secondary heart involvement in AIDS-related primary lymphoma of the liver. A worsening dyspnea led to the diagnosis of pericardial effusion, and transesophageal echocardiography revealed the presence of large endocardial ventricular masses. Clinical suspicion of a lymphomatous origin was confirmed at the autopsy, which showed an extranodal dissemination pattern (heart, liver, intestine, and lung). In AIDS patients, both primary and secondary lymphomatous heart involvement are increasing in incidence. Clinical symptoms and signs are vague. Since the hematogenous route is the most common pattern of involvement, even extrathoracic lymphomas can present heart dissemination. Thus, it should be suspected in lymphoma patients who present with even mild aspecific heart symptoms. Appropriate imaging procedures include transesophageal echocardiography and, if possible, ECG-gated MRI. A negative transthoracic echocardiograph does not exclude the presence of myocardial tumor. Chemotherapy is only occasionally beneficial, and the prognosis remains poor. Received: October 10, 1997 / Accepted: April 29, 1998