title: Primary right atrium angiosarcoma mimicking pericarditis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Primary cardiac neoplasms occur rarely and most of them are benign. Malignant tumors including angiosarcoma are extremely rare and have a non specific clinical presentation and a poor prognosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present a case of a young male who was transferred to our hospital because of shock and multiple organ failure after a complicated pericardial biopsy. During the previous seven months he presented with recurrent episodes of pericardial effusions and tamponade. Chest computed tomography revealed a mass in the right atrium, infiltrating the myocardium and pericardium. During emergency surgery that followed, the patient died because of uncontrolled hemorrhage. Autopsy revealed the mass of the right atrium, which was identified on histological examination as primary cardiac angiosarcoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This case highlights the difficulties both in early diagnosis and in the management of patients with cardiac angiosarcoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Critical Care, Medical School of Athens University, Evangelismos Hospital, Athens Greece. medgrast@hol.gr.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kontogiorgi
authors.forename: Demetrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Exarchos
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Charitos
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Floros
authors.forename: Demetra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rontogianni
authors.forename: Charis
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roussos
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Routsi