Primary cardiac lymphoma in a patient with concomitant renal cancer

Abstract

Primary cardiac lymphoma is defined as non-Hodgkin lymphoma involving the heart and/or pericardium. It is a rare cancer that primarily affects the right heart and in particular the right atrium. By contrast, renal cell carcinoma is a relatively common cancer, which in rare circumstances can metastasize to the heart. It is now known that there is an association between non-Hodgkin lymphoma and renal cell carcinoma, although the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. The authors present a case of primary cardiac non-Hodgkin lymphoma in a patient with concomitant renal cell carcinoma and explore the possible reasons for this association.

Keywords: Biópsia cardíaca; Derrame pericárdico; Echocardiography; Ecocardiografia; Heart biopsy; Linfoma primário do coração; Neoplasia renal; Pericardial effusion; Primary cardiac lymphoma; Renal cancer.