Primary cardiac lymphoma: presentation of two cases in immunocompetent patients
Mayayo Artal, E.; Balanzá Roure, R.; Font Ferré, L.; Alvaro Naranjo, T.
Anales de Medicina Interna 19(12): 629-631
2002
ISSN/ISBN: 0212-7199 PMID: 12593031 Document Number: 548396
Primary cardiac lymphomas (PCL) are extremely rare in immunocompetent patients. Their pathogenesis seems obscure and a few studies which have sought Epstein Barr virus (EBV) agree that this is generally not demonstrable. Two cases of cardiac lymphoma have been described. In both cases, as usually occurs, the histological diagnosis was performed after post-mortem examination. Histological examinations revealed a B large cell lymphoma in both patients. Autopsy material from both cases showed an inflammatory focus distant from the tumoral mass. EBERs and LMP for EBV were negative. PCLs are often fast-growing tumours with a highly unfavorable prognosis. Epstein-Barr virus appears to play no role in the development of this malignant condition.