Unexplained hemopericardium as a presenting feature of primary cardiac angiosarcoma: a case report and a review of the diagnostic dilemma

Abstract

This report describes a patient diagnosed with a cardiac angiosarcoma. The patient presented with cardiac tamponade. A pericardiocentesis revealed a bloody effusion, but cytology was nondiagnostic and a chest computed tomography showed only mediastinal lymphadenopathy. His pericardial effusion recurred 3 weeks later, at which time he was found to have a large right atrial mass which proved to be a cardiac angiosarcoma. This case report underscores the difficulties encountered in the diagnosis of cardiac angiosarcoma.