PRIMARY ANGIOSARCOMA OF THE RIGHT ATRIUM AS A CAUSE OF CARDIAC TAMPONADE AND DEATH OF A 33-YEAR-OLD FEMALE PATIENT – AUTOPSY REPORT
Autori:
Tihana Džombeta, Marija Milković Periša, Tanja Leniček, Davor Tomas, Božo Krušlin
Sažetak
Summary
Sudden death most commonly occurs due to cardiac-related disorders, namely coronary artery disease or cardiomyopathies, while primary cardiac tumors are exceptionally rare. Three quarters of primary cardiac tumors are benign and the rest are malignant, mainly sarcomas and rarely lymphomas. The most common histological subtype of primary cardiac sarcoma is angiosarcoma, which is usually located in the right atrium and sometimes in the pericardium. Here, we report a case of a female patient admitted to our institution due to suspected septic shock, who died within a few hours of admission, despite given supportive measures.The autopsy revealed a tumor of the right atrium showing histological and immunohistochemical characteristics of angiosarcoma. Infiltration of epicardium and hemorrhage in the pericardial cavity caused cardiac tamponade and death. This report also provides a brief review of epidemiological and clinical features, as well as diagnostic and treatment options for primary cardiac angiosarcoma.