[Primary angiosarcoma of the right atrium invading the pericardial cavity. Description of a case diagnosed by exploratory thoracotomy and surgically treated with success]

Abstract

The AA. report the case of a 43-year-old woman with an angiosarcoma arising from the right atrial wall and growing into the pericardial cavity. The patient presented with recurrent pericardial effusion initially responsive to medical therapy. The diagnosis was made at the exploratory thoracotomy. Repeated 2D-Echocardiograms did not help for the diagnosis in this particular case. The patient underwent surgical resection of the tumor, chemo- and radiotherapy. After 30 months there are no signs of recurrence or metastasis. In our opinion the frequent recurrence of pericardial effusion in the same patient should be regarded with special suspicion.