Primary angiosarcoma of the right atrium detected by magnetic resonance imaging

Intern Med. 1992 Nov;31(11):1291-7. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.31.1291.

Abstract

A 20-year-old woman with a primary angiosarcoma of the right atrium is reported. The patient had a cardiorespiratory arrest due to cardiac tamponade with bloody pericardial effusion. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a tumor, which was corroborated by selective coronary angiography. Open-heart surgery was performed. The tumor relapsed however, and she died four months after operation. The tumor was undetectable by echocardiography, but MRI demonstrated a heterogeneous mass with focal areas of high- and low-signal intensity in the right atrium, suggesting that MRI may allow characterization of cardiac tumors.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Comparative Study
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Coronary Angiography
  • Echocardiography
  • Female
  • Heart Atria
  • Heart Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Heart Neoplasms / pathology
  • Hemangiosarcoma / diagnosis*
  • Hemangiosarcoma / pathology
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging