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.

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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
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article

Silent Invader: The Enigmatic Case of Cardiac Angiosarcoma

Shazia M Shah, Sai Rakshith Gaddameedi, Anoohya Vangala, Fnu Arty et al.
Cureus
Cardiac tumors and thrombi
article

Silent Invader: The Enigmatic Case of Cardiac Angiosarcoma

Shazia M Shah, Sai Rakshith Gaddameedi, Anoohya Vangala, Fnu Arty, Petro Vavrukh, Sankalp Acharya, Devarashetty Shreya
article en

Abstract

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.

CureusVol. 18(1)
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (US), Saint Barnabas Medical Center (US), Monmouth Medical Center (US)
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 89%
Cardiac tumors and thrombi
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