[Primary cardiac lymphoma: presentation of two cases in immunocompetent patients].
BACKGROUND
Primary cardiac lymphomas (PCL) are extremely rare in immunocompetent patients. Their pathogenesis seems obscure and a few studies which have sought Epstein Barr virus (EBV) agree that this is generally not demonstrable.


METHODS
Two cases of cardiac lymphoma have been described. In both cases, as usually occurs, the histological diagnosis was performed after post-mortem examination. Histological examinations revealed a B large cell lymphoma in both patients. Autopsy material from both cases showed an inflammatory focus distant from the tumoral mass. EBERs and LMP for EBV were negative.


CONCLUSIONS
PCLs are often fast-growing tumours with a highly unfavorable prognosis. Epstein-Barr virus appears to play no role in the development of this malignant condition.
Mayayo Artal
E
E
Servicio de Patología, Hospital Universitario de Tarragona Joan XXIII, Tarragona.
Balanzá Roure
R
R
Font Ferré
L
L
Alvaro Naranjo
T
T
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000473:pathology; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007121:Immunocompetence; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged