Angiosarcoma of the Right Ventricle: A Rare Encounter

(#2001-09990 ... January 3, 2002)

Ali M. Alizzi, MD,¹ Raad U. Almehdi, FRCS,² Santiago A. Endara, MD,¹ Alex Roati, MBBS,³ Benjamin P. Bidstrup, FRACS¹

Departments of ¹Cardiothoracic Surgery, ²General Surgery, and ³Cardiology, Townsville General Hospital, Townsville, Queensland, Australia

Abstract:

We report a case of angiosarcoma involving the right ventricle. The patient was seen in our Cardiology Department and subsequently referred to our unit for surgery. He gave a 1-week history of lethargy, chest pain, breathlessness on exertion, fevers, and night sweats. Echocardiography and computed tomography of the chest showed a large pericardial effusion with multiple densities, raising suspicions of a hemorrhagic effusion. Surgical exploration showed an epicardial mass. Histopathology revealed angiosarcoma.

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