title: Primary left atrial fibrosarcoma.
abstract: An elderly female with refractory cardiovascular symptoms due to functional mitral stenosis secondary to a primary left atrial fibrosarcoma is described. The symptoms are often nonspecific and most of the patients present first time with hemodynamic compromise. A high index of suspicion is essential for the early diagnosis of these highly malignant cardiac tumors because of their rarity, a wide spectrum of nonspecific symptoms and poor survival.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, North Staffordshire Hospital, Royal Infirmary, Princes Road, Harts Hill, Staffs ST4 7LN, Stoke-on-Trent, UK. ppkumar@rcsed.ac.uk
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Paruchuru
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Brann
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Patel
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004452:Echocardiography; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D005354:Fibrosarcoma / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008946:Mitral Valve Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology