Primary Cardiac Lymphoma from the Left Ventricle: a case report

Primary cardiac lymphoma (PCL) is extremely rare, def ined as lymphoma that involves only the heart, pericardium, or both. We report a 73-year-old man who suffered from exertional dyspnea and bilateral lower leg pitting edema for 1 month. Imaging study including cardioechography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and angiography were performed, showing cardiac tumor arising from left ventricular wall associated with pericardial effusion. The patient underwent bilateral partial pericardiectomy and open surgical biopsy. PCL with reactive pericarditis was diagnosed on the basis of imaging features and histopathological findings. We review other reported cases of PCL and summarize the imaging characteristics that help to establish the diagnosis of PCL. Primary cardiac tumor is a rare entity, with a reported prevalence in autopsy series of between 0.001% and 0.03%. Pr imary cardiac lymphoma (PCL) accounts for approximately 1.3% of all primary cardiac tumors [1]. In comparison to PCLs, metastatic cardiac lymphomas occur more commonly. Recent advances in imaging and surgical techniques, however, have made the diagnosis of PCL easier. We present a case of PCL which originates from left ventricle and the clinical manifestations and imaging findings.