title: Primary cardiac lymphoma with infiltration of the atrioventricular node: remission with reversal of the atrioventricular block induced by chemotherapy.
abstract: We describe a rare case of primary cardiac lymphoma associated with complete atrioventricular block, with recovery following systemic chemotherapy. A 61 year-old woman was admitted because of a massive pericardial effusion and complete atrioventricular block. Echocardiography disclosed several polypoid masses in the right atrium. A diagnosis of primary cardiac lymphoma was made. After three cycles of chemotherapy, the patient achieved a complete remission, the ECG showed first-degree atrioventricular block, and echocardiography revealed disappearance of the right atrial masses. This is the first report of a patient recovering from primary cardiac lymphoma and complete atrioventricular block following systemic chemotherapy. We conclude that aggressive treatment of this malignancy can improve cardiac function and the patient's prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka City University Medical School, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakayama
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uchimoto
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsumura
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Morii
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001283:Atrioventricular Node / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001706:Biopsy; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006327:Heart Block / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016399:Lymphoma, T-Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D015635:Radionuclide Ventriculography; D012074:Remission Induction; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed