PRIMARY HEMANGIOSARCOMA OF THE HEART

Primary cardiac sarcomas are malignant neoplasmas of mesenchymal cells . Angiosarcomas, unlike all other primary cardiac sarcomas, are typica lly found in the right atrium. We present the case of a 52-year-old pa tient in whom through echocardiography, computed tomography and angiog raphy the precise diagnosis and extent of the tumor was revealed. Surg ical treatment consisted of excision of the tumor with right atrium pa tch-plasty under cardiopulmonary bypass. Despite the successful operat ion the patient died 6 months later because of metastasis. Very early and precise diagnosis is essential to improve patient survival and pre vent the development of metastases.