Punch Biopsy as a Diagnostic Keystone for Metastatic Cardiac Angiosarcoma Treated With Anthracycline-Based Chemotherapy: A Case Report

Angiosarcoma is a rare, aggressive malignancy originating from endothelial cells and associated with a poor prognosis. Diagnosis is histologically challenging. We present a rare case of cardiac angiosarcoma involving multiple presentations and investigations, which were inconclusive until a diagnosis was finally reached on a biopsy of a cutaneous lesion. Clinical and radiologic response to systemic anthracycline-based chemotherapy is discussed. This is the first reported case of right atrial primary cardiac angiosarcoma presenting with cardiac symptoms rather than systemic symptoms. The case illustrates the challenges associated with the diagnosis of this rare malignancy. It also highlights the feasibility of using anthracycline-based chemotherapy despite the potential cardiotoxicity of these agents.

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Publication Details

Journal
Cureus
Published
2025-02-23
DOI
https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.79524
Primary Topic
Cardiac tumors and thrombi
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

Punch Biopsy as a Diagnostic Keystone for Metastatic Cardiac Angiosarcoma Treated With Anthracycline-Based Chemotherapy: A Case Report

Cynthia Heffron, Gráinne Murphy, David Aherne, Richard Bambury et al.
Cureus
Cardiac tumors and thrombi
article

Punch Biopsy as a Diagnostic Keystone for Metastatic Cardiac Angiosarcoma Treated With Anthracycline-Based Chemotherapy: A Case Report

Cynthia Heffron, Gráinne Murphy, David Aherne, Richard Bambury, Alex Joyce
article en

Abstract

Angiosarcoma is a rare, aggressive malignancy originating from endothelial cells and associated with a poor prognosis. Diagnosis is histologically challenging. We present a rare case of cardiac angiosarcoma involving multiple presentations and investigations, which were inconclusive until a diagnosis was finally reached on a biopsy of a cutaneous lesion. Clinical and radiologic response to systemic anthracycline-based chemotherapy is discussed. This is the first reported case of right atrial primary cardiac angiosarcoma presenting with cardiac symptoms rather than systemic symptoms. The case illustrates the challenges associated with the diagnosis of this rare malignancy. It also highlights the feasibility of using anthracycline-based chemotherapy despite the potential cardiotoxicity of these agents.

CureusVol. 17(2)
Cork University Hospital (IE)
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 94%
Cardiac tumors and thrombi
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