Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2008; 56(8): 488-490
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-989292
Short Communications

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Angiosarcoma of the Right Atrium Masquerading as Recurrent Pulmonary Embolism

D. S. O'Callaghan1 , D. P. Breen2 , V. Young1
  • 1Department of Cardiology, Respiratory Medicine and Cardiothoracic Surgery, St. James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
  • 2Thoracic Endoscopy Unit, Sainte Marguerite University Hospital, Marseille, France
Further Information

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.

References

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  • 2 Burke A P, Cowan D, Virmani R. Primary sarcomas of the heart.  Cancer. 1992;  69 387-395
  • 3 Sparrow P J, Kurian J B, Jones T R, Sivananthan M U. MR imaging of cardiac tumors.  RadioGraphics. 2005;  25 1255-1276
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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

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