DOI: 10.12890/2019_001079

Cardiac Angiosarcoma: From Cardiac Tamponade to Ischaemic Stroke – A Diagnostic Challenge

Authors

  • Vanessa Meireles Chaves Department of Internal Medicine, Centro Hospitalar de S. João, Porto, Portugal 0000-0001-6341-2422
  • Catarina Pereira Department of Internal Medicine, Centro Hospitalar Vila Nova de Gaia/Espinho, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal
  • Marta Andrade Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Centro Hospitalar de S. João, Porto, Portugal
  • Pedro von Hafe Department of Internal Medicine, Centro Hospitalar de S. João, Porto, Portugal
  • Jorge Almeida Department of Internal Medicine, Centro Hospitalar de S. João, Porto, Portugal

vanessameirelesc@gmail.com

Keywords

Cardiac angiosarcoma, pericardial effusion, cardiac tamponade, pericardial biopsy, ischaemic stroke

Abstract

Cardiac angiosarcoma (CA) is the most common primary malignant heart tumour. Its atypical symptoms and rapidly progressive nature contribute to delayed diagnosis and poor outcome. We report the case of a 52-year-old woman admitted with a large pericardial effusion. An extensive study of the aetiology of the pericardial effusion was inconclusive. Two months later the patient returned with ischaemic stroke. An echocardiogram revealed a probable right atrium contained rupture. The patient was submitted to surgical correction but died 9 days later. Histology revealed an angiosarcoma. This case exemplifies the atypical presentation of CA and highlights the importance of a multimodal diagnostic work-up in patients with idiopathic pericardial effusion.

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Published

2019-04-03

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 4 (2019)

How to Cite

1.
Chaves VM, Pereira C, Andrade M, von Hafe P, Almeida J. Cardiac Angiosarcoma: From Cardiac Tamponade to Ischaemic Stroke – A Diagnostic Challenge. EJCRIM [Internet]. 2019 Apr. 3 [cited 2026 Nov. 3];6(4). Available from: https://ejcrim.com/index.php/ejcrim/article/view/1079

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