Successful treatment of primary cardiac B-cell lymphoma: depiction at multislice computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract

Primary cardiac malignant lymphomas are extremely rare and the majority of lymphomas are aggressive B-cell lymphomas. We describe a patient with primary cardiac B-cell lymphoma presenting with superior vena caval syndrome and dyspnea. The tumors manifested as hypoechoic immobile masses on echocardiography, poorly enhancing masses on contrast-enhanced multislice computed tomography and iso-intense masses on T1-weighted and hyper-intense masses on T2-weighted magnetic resonance images. Pathologic examination revealed that the mass was consistent with B-cell malignant lymphoma. Systemic chemotherapy together with monoclonal CD 20 antibody treatment was initiated. There was marked regression of the tumor 4 days after the treatment and complete disappearance of the tumor after 8 days after the treatment without episodes of systemic or pulmonary embolism.