title: Leiomyosarcoma of the Right Atrium Masked by a Covering Thrombus: Conflicting Results of Echocardiography and Transvenous Biopsy-In Favor of Echocardiography.
abstract: A 62-year-old woman was admitted for the evaluation of pedal edema and ascitis. Echocardiography revealed a right atrial (RA) mass invading the interatrial septum and extending into the inferior vena cava (IVC). Contrast enhanced computerized tomography scan excluded extravascular involvement. An organized thrombus was diagnosed by transvenous endomyocardial biopsy. The patient was treated with continuous intravenous heparin, and died soon after from hepatic failure. Postmortem histologic examination revealed a leiomyosarcoma surrounded by a thrombus involving RA, IVC, and hepatic veins. Endomyocardial biopsy played a misleading role that affected patient's management.
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Rehabilitation Institute, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, 52621 Tel-Hashomer, Israel.
authors.forename: Ilan
authors.lastname: Auerbach
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tenenbaum
authors.forename: Enrique Z.
authors.initials: EZ
authors.lastname: Fisman
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shemesh
authors.forename: Meora
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Feinmeser
authors.forename: Yitzhak
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Herz
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trujillo
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Motro