Primary cardiac lymphoma and complete atrio-ventricular block: case report and review of the literature.
Primary cardiac lymphoma (PCL) is a rare and extremely aggressive malignancy, which can express itself by damaging the cardiac conduction system (complete atrio-ventricular block), the myocardium and the pericardium. Histology confirms the diagnosis. Chances of survival depend on early diagnosis and treatment. We present the case of a female patient admitted for severe deterioration of her general state of health who had a complete atrio-ventricular block caused by a tumour of the atrial septum, a B-cell lymphoma stage I. The diagnosis was suggested by combined PET/CT imaging and confirmed by histology of a cardiac biopsy. Her general clinical condition, including the cardiac parameters, significantly improved following chemotherapy induction.
Montiel
Virginie
V
Department of Cardiology, Cliniques Universitaires UCL de Mont Godinne, Yvoir, Belgium. virginiemontiel@mail.com
Maziers
Nicolas
N
Dereme
Thierry
T
D000368:Aged; D001283:Atrioventricular Node / Q000473:pathology*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006327:Heart Block / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography