title: Angiosarcoma of the right atrium presenting as collapse.
abstract: Pericardial effusion may originate from a wide variety of underlying pathology. Primary cardiac malignancy should always be considered as a rare underlying cause. Angiosarcoma is the most common cardiac malignancy, which often arises as a mass in the right atrium. We describe a young patient with collapse due to pericardial effusion caused by a primary cardiac angiosarcoma. The case is an example of the difficulties and dilemmas which may be encountered in assessing the diagnosis of cardiac angiosarcoma.
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: van der Lee
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Klootwijk
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: van Geuns
authors.forename: Lex P W M
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Maat
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: den Bakker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004244:Dizziness; D004417:Dyspnea; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006325:Heart Atria; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D006394:Hemangiosarcoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D020519:Pericardiocentesis; D011859:Radiography; D014474:Unconsciousness / Q000209:etiology*