Brain radiotherapy and anlotinib control primary cardiac angiosarcoma with metastases: A case report

Abstract

Rationale: Primary cardiac angiosarcoma (PCA) is a rare and fatal disease with a poor prognosis. Whether the survival of PCA patients can be prolonged with additional treatment following complete surgical excision is controversial.

Patient concerns: In this case study, a 52-year-old male complained of chest tightness and pain for 7 days before admission into the hospital. Subsequently, he revisited the hospital because of dizziness and headache.

Diagnoses: Initially, the patient was diagnosed with PCA in the right atrium by thoracic computed tomography (CT). Palliative resection identified brain, lung, and liver metastases.

Intervention: The patient accepted multimodal combination therapy, including first-line chemotherapy and then second-line anlotinib concurrent with brain radiotherapy and immunotherapy.

Outcome: Although anlotinib combined with brain radiotherapy controlled the growth of intracranial lesions, progression-free survival (PFS) was only 5 months, and the overall survival (OS) was only 12 months.

Lesson: The treatment for metastatic PCA needs an in-depth exploration.