Primary cardiac angiosarcoma: a rare cause of diffuse alveolar haemorrhage

BMJ Case Rep. 2018 Jun 4:2018:bcr2018225365. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2018-225365.

Abstract

Primary cardiac angiosarcoma is a rare disease with a dismal prognosis. We report a case of a 50-year-old man who presented with haemoptysis, cough and worsening dyspnoea. An intracardiac mass was visualised on echocardiogram. He was treated for diffuse alveolar haemorrhage and acute respiratory distress syndrome but died from refractory hypoxaemic respiratory failure leading to cardiac arrest. The diagnosis of primary cardiac angiosarcoma with haemorrhagic pulmonary metastases leading to diffuse alveolar damage was confirmed on autopsy.

Keywords: lung cancer (oncology); mechanical ventilation; respiratory system.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Cough / etiology
  • Dyspnea / etiology
  • Echocardiography
  • Fatal Outcome
  • Heart Neoplasms / complications*
  • Heart Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Heart Neoplasms / pathology
  • Hemangiosarcoma / complications*
  • Hemangiosarcoma / diagnostic imaging
  • Hemangiosarcoma / pathology
  • Hemoptysis / etiology
  • Hemorrhage / diagnostic imaging
  • Hemorrhage / etiology*
  • Hemorrhage / therapy
  • Humans
  • Hypoxia / etiology
  • Hypoxia / therapy
  • Lung Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung Diseases / etiology*
  • Lung Diseases / therapy
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pulmonary Alveoli
  • Radiography, Thoracic
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome / etiology*
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome / therapy
  • Respiratory Insufficiency / etiology
  • Respiratory Insufficiency / therapy
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed