Primary cardiac sarcoma - Two case reports

Two case reports of primary cardiac sarcoma, which is uncommon, are present ed. The first case, a 38-year-old male, complained of chest tightness. Ches t roentgenograms showed enlargement of the cardiac shadow and left pleural effusion. Transthoracic echocardiography and chest magnetic resonance imagi ng showed a tumor in the right atrium, and pericardial effusion. The tumor involved the right atrial wall and interatrial septum, and was partially re sected. Pathohistological examination revealed angiosarcoma. Hz died 1 mont h later. The second case, a 19-year-old male complained of dyspnea and orth opnea. Chess roentgenograms showed pulmonary congestion. Transthoracic echo cardiography showed a large mobile mass in the left atrium. An emergency op eration was performed and the tumor was totally resected. Pathohistological examination demonstrated leiomyosarcoma. The postoperative course was unev entful, but the tumor rapidly recurred. Second and third operations were pe rformed at intervals of 2 months. After the third operation, he was treated with radiotherapy. Local recurrence was not found but multiple distant met astases were found 2 months after completion of radiation therapy.