title: Angiosarcoma of the pericardium: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Primary malignant tumors of the pericardium are rare, and most primary malignant pericardium tumors are mesotheliomas. Primary pericardial angiosarcoma is extremely rare, and it is associated with a poor prognosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report of a 47-year-old woman who complained of activity-related chest tightness and shortness of breath. Computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and transesophageal echocardiography revealed an enlarged pericardium with hematic and solid components. An exploratory pericardiotomy was performed, and the results of the histological examination were suggestive of spindle cell hemangioendothelioma. She survived for 9 months after surgery without chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and she had a relatively good quality of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Primary pericardial angiosarcoma is difficult to diagnose, and it has a poor prognosis. Pericardiotomy, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy were associated with a prolongation of survival.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital Beijing 100730, China.
authors.forename: Guo-Tao
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital Beijing 100730, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Zhou
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiac Surgery, Peking Union Medical College Hospital Beijing 100730, China.
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Miao
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital Beijing 100730, China.
authors.forename: Quan-Cai
authors.initials: QC
authors.lastname: Cui
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D006394:Hemangiosarcoma / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000473:pathology; D010496:Pericardium / Q000473:pathology*; D011788:Quality of Life
keywords: Primary pericardial angiosarcoma; prognosis; therapy