PRIMARY CARDIAC LYMPHOMA

Primary cardiac lymphoma is a rare entity. We report on the clinicopat hological features of 2 patients with primary cardiac lymphomas: one i nvolving the right atrium resulting in intractable right heart failure , and the other involving the pericardium with massive pericardial eff usion. In the first patient, sternotomy and surgical biopsy of the tum or were performed to arrive at the diagnosis. In the second patient, C T thorax and transesophageal echocardiography helped to diagnose the p ericardial tumor, and cytological examination of the pericardial fluid established the pathological diagnosis of lymphoma. Combination chemo therapy (COPP) was started in both patients. The first patient died on the first day of chemotherapy due to intractable heart failure, while the second attained a partial response to chemotherapy but died of pr ogressive disease 8 weeks later. This is followed by a literature revi ew of 21 patients with primary cardiac lymphoma. In conclusion, the pr ognosis of primary cardiac tumor remains poor. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, In c.