Right atrial angiosarcoma mimicking a myxoma: from a wrong diagnosis to a difficult decision

Flavio Cocconcelli, Filippo Benassi, Matteo Scapinelli, Roberto Parravicini

Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, İtalya

The case described deals with a 27-year old man who underwent surgical approach to remove a large right atrial mass diagnosed as cardiac myxoma. During the operation several biopsies were performed because of its gross aspect. An angiosarcoma was diagnosed, thus, a surgical excision was the only possible procedure. Six months later, a computed tomography scan revealed the presence of substitutive and hemorrhagic cerebral lesions. The patient expired 10 months after surgery. The best therapy for primary angiosarcoma would have been an early and complete surgical excision. Unfortunately, often an important involvement of vital cardiac structures is present; in this case an orthotopic cardiac transplantation could be considered.

Keywords : Angiosarcoma; myxoma; cardiac tumor; heart transplantation

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