Primary cardiac sarcoma presenting as shock

Abstract

Primary cardiac sarcomas are rare tumors with an unfavourable prognosis. Complete surgical resection is currently the only mode of therapy proven to show any benefit. We report an adult male who presented to emergency department with shock. Echocardiography revealed a huge right ventricular mass obstructing the right ventricular outflow tract and he underwent emergency resection of the mass. Subsequent histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of fibromyxosarcoma. Primary cardiac sarcoma presenting as circulatory shock is a rare phenomenon. (Ind J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2009; 25: 31-33)

Unusual survival time of primary cardiac sarcoma of the right ventricle

“…Dyspnea is the commonest symptom in 60%, followed by chest pain in 28%, congestive heart failure in 28%, palpitations in 24%, fever in 14%, myalgia in 10% and embolism in 5%. [ 1 ] Although in adults cardiac tumors are mostly benign, 25% can be malignant and one-third of these are angiosarcomas. [ 7 – 9 ] Cardiac sarcoma is a rapidly growing tumor with local invasion and systemic metastases which result in dismal prognosis.…”

“…The prevalence of primary cardiac sarcoma in autopsy series is 0.001–0.28%. [ 1 ] In one of the series, the incidence was reported to range from 0.0017 to 0.019%. [ 2 3 ] The usual sites are the atrium, ventricle, pericardium or great vessels.…”