Primary cardiac lymphoma: death from cardiac asystole after attaining second complete remission.
A patient with primary high grade cardiac lymphoma, diagnosed by pericardial fluid cytology, achieved complete remission with chemotherapy. After a relapse 11 months later, a second complete remission was attained with radiotherapy and chemotherapy but the patient suffered a fatal cardiac asystole during intensification therapy. A review of the recent literature suggests that prognosis for this rare extra nodal lymphoma has markedly improved as a result of early diagnosis and prompt institution of aggressive antilymphoma therapy.
Department of Haematology, Leicester Royal Infirmary, UK.
P T
PT
Murphy
M
M
Sivakumaran
P
P
Coleby
D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000209:etiology; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D012074:Remission Induction; D013997:Time Factors