ISSN : 1301-5680
e-ISSN : 2149-8156
Turkish Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery     
Tuberculoma invading the right atrium in an old patient
Mustafa Sağlam, Osman Karakaya, Hekim Karapınar, İrfan Barutçu, Cihangir Kaymaz
Kartal Koşuyolu Yüksek İhtisas Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi Kardiyoloji Kliniği, İstanbul
Tuberculoma is a rare condition which is considered in the differential diagnosis of intracardiac masses. A 74-year-old woman presented with complaints of dyspnea and epigastric pain. She had a history of pulmonary tuberculosis treated 35 years before and VVIR permanent pacemaker implantation for severe atrioventricular block six months before. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography showed a right atrial mass suggestive of thrombus and anticoagulant therapy was instituted. However, echocardiographic findings persisted on the eighth day of anticoagulation and the mass filling the right atrium was removed surgically. Pathologic examination of the surgical specimen showed caseous necrosis and the patient was administered antituberculous treatment with four drugs. She was discharged two weeks postoperatively, but was hospitalized again because of deterioration of her general status and respiratory insufficiency, requiring intubation and ventilation. She died on the fifth day of intubation from septic shock.
Keywords : Echocardiography; heart atria; tuberculoma/diagnosis; tuberculosis, cardiovascular.
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