Primary cardiac angiosarcoma associated with cardiac tamponade - Case report

A 57-year-old male with primary cardiac angiosarcoma was initially admitted for cardiac tamponade. Pericardiocentesis was performed twice preoperative ly, but the bloody pericardial fluid was cytologically negative for maligna nt cells. The tumor in the right atrium was resected during cardiopulmonary bypass. The resected tumor was 5.5x4.5x3.0cm in size and the diagnosis of cardiac angiosarcoma was made histologically. There were no tumor cells in the surgical margin. Unfortunately the patient died 3.5 months after surger y due to multiple recurrence in the pericardium. A suitable therapy for car diac angiosarcoma is still controversial, but early antemortem diagnosis an d more aggressive combined treatment should be considered.