Primary cardiac lymphoma presenting as atrial flutter and total heart block

Heart Vessels. 2007 Jan;22(1):52-4. doi: 10.1007/s00380-006-0924-2. Epub 2007 Jan 26.

Abstract

Primary cardiac lymphoma is extremely rare. We present the case of a 70-year-old man with primary cardiac lymphoma involving interatrial septum, presenting as atrial flutter and total heart block. The diagnosis was obtained by echocardiography-guided transvenous endocardial biopsy which revealed diffuse large B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, CD 20+. After six courses of immunochemotherapy the patient achieved complete remission. After 2 months he developed a series of epileptic attacks. Intracerebral lymphoma extension was diagnosed. Two cycles of high-dose methotrexate and cranial irradiation were applied, resulting in a second complete remission.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Atrial Flutter / etiology*
  • Echocardiography, Transesophageal
  • Heart Block / etiology*
  • Heart Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Heart Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Heart Neoplasms / therapy
  • Humans
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / diagnosis*
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / diagnostic imaging
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / therapy