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Review
. 2015 Oct 30:10:138.
doi: 10.1186/s13019-015-0348-0.

Primary cardiac lymphoma: two cases and a review of literature

Karolis Jonavicius  1   2   3 , Kestutis Salcius  4 , Raimundas Meskauskas  5 , Nomeda Valeviciene  6 , Virgilijus Tarutis  7   8 , Vytautas Sirvydis  9
Affiliations
Review

Primary cardiac lymphoma: two cases and a review of literature

Karolis Jonavicius et al. J Cardiothorac Surg. .

Abstract

Background: Primary cardiac lymphoma is one of the rarest tumours of the heart. It belongs to the extra-nodal non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. The most common type of this tumour is diffuse large B cell lymphoma. Usually, right atrium and right ventricle are involved. This tumour is fatal unless diagnosed and treated in time. In this article two female patients who were diagnosed with primary cardiac lymphoma and treated at our clinic are described. The first patient went to remission after the treatment, while the second patient died. The goals of this article are to show the difficulties of diagnosing and treating this disease, the role of cardiac surgery in its treatment and to raise awareness of this disease.

Case reports: In this article two female patients who were diagnosed with primary cardiac lymphoma and treated at our clinic are described. The first patient went to remission after the treatment, while the second patient died.

Conclusions: Primary cardiac lymphoma is a very rare disease. At the moment the most effective treatment is chemotherapy. Palliative surgery may be necessary to correct hemodynamics when venous blood flow to the lungs is disturbed.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Schema of the procedure performed for the first patient (drawing by O. Barysaite). Black arrows indicate venous blood flow through the right side of the heart
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Preoperative patient 2 Heart MRI. a 4 chambers GRE view. Hypointensive masses visible in right ventricle, right atrium and right atrial appendage (red arrow). The tumour is obstructing the right ventricle and compressing the interventricular septum, and the left ventricle. b 2 chambers GRE view. Hypointensive masses in the right ventricle and right atrium (red arrow). c 4 chambers view perfusion sequence. Perfusion is seen in the masses (red arrow). d 4 chambers view. Non homogenous gadolinium enhancement is visible (red arrow). All images were taken during diastole
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Patient 2 tumour histology. Diffuse myocardial infiltration with large B cells (Hematoxylin-eosin stain, original magnification × 200)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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