Silent Invader: The Enigmatic Case of Cardiac Angiosarcoma
Cardiac angiosarcoma is a rare and aggressive malignant tumor that often masquerades as a more common cardiac condition. Patients frequently exhibit nonspecific symptoms, leading to delayed detection and a grim prognosis. Given the scarcity of documented cases, we present an intriguing case of primary cardiac epithelioid angiosarcoma with pleural metastasis, manifesting as recurrent pericardial and pleural effusions. This case highlights the diagnostic complexity of cardiac angiosarcoma, especially when typical right atrial masses are absent. Persistent, unexplained pericardial and pleural effusions should prompt consideration of malignancy, particularly when standard evaluations are inconclusive. Early tissue biopsy and a multidisciplinary approach are essential for the timely diagnosis and management of this rare but deadly condition.
Authors
- Shazia M Shah
- Sai Rakshith Gaddameedi
- Anoohya Vangala (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6660-4574)
- Fnu Arty
- Petro Vavrukh
- Sankalp Acharya
- Devarashetty Shreya
Institutions
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (US)
- Saint Barnabas Medical Center (US)
- Monmouth Medical Center (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Cureus
- Published
- 2026-01-13
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.101480
- Primary Topic
- Cardiac tumors and thrombi
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00