Angiosarcoma – a rare fatal cause of recurrent pericardial effusions
- Author:
Boon Han Ng
1
;
Yi Shan Tan
;
Pavitratha Puspanathan
;
Chan Tha A Hing
;
Nadiah Hanim Zainu
;
Chong Hong Lim
Author Information
- Publication Type:Case Reports
- From: The Medical Journal of Malaysia 2020;75(6):759-761
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
- Abstract: A 40-year-old man presented to the Hospital Sultanah Bahiyah, Alor Setar, Kedah, with constitutional and respiratory symptoms. Physical examination and echocardiogram demonstrated massive pericardial effusion. Patient required multiple attempts of pericardiocentesis due to recurrent pericardial effusion. Initial workup including pericardial fluids examination and computed tomography imaging did not reveal any apparent cause. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a suspicious mass infiltrating into the right atrium. Autoimmune screening was negative. Patient was subsequently treated as having tuberculous pericarditis. However, his disease progressed rapidly and he eventually passed away due to right atrial rupture. Postmortem revealed a ruptured right atrial tumour leading to massive haemothorax. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of primary pericardial angiosarcoma.
