Pericardial mass: A rare form of cardiac actinomycosis case report
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SUBMITTER: Almutairi A
PROVIDER: S-EPMC9207081 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:BackgroundConstrictive pericarditis associated with actinomycosis infection is a rare and challenging diagnosis due to its insidious manifestation. We describe the successful treatment of pericardial infiltration and constriction due to actinomycosis.Case summaryA 50-year-old Aboriginal man presented with insidious onset of fatigue, dyspnoea, pleuritic chest pain, fever, drenching sweats, severe exercise intolerance to 50 m, and recurrent itchy skin lesions over 8 months. Prior investigations, including serial fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-Positron emission tomography scans, found a progressively enlarging, metabolically active anterior mediastinal mass with two biopsies on separate occasions showing no malignancy, granulomas, tuberculosis, or other pathology. Screening for infective, autoimmune, and connective tissue disease was negative. A transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) showed fibrinous pericarditis with extensive myocardial tethering and constrictive physiology confirmed on heart catheterization. A pericardial biopsy showed inflammatory tissue only. Biopsy of a skin lesion on the buttock showed abscess formation with Splendore Hoeppli phenomenon with Gram-positive and Grocott-positive filamentous bacteria suggestive of actinomyces, confirmed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. He was diagnosed with cardiac actinomycosis, likely due to mediastinal infiltration from a lung infection, with haematogenous spread and treated with Penicillin G with adjunctive high-dose steroid therapy with resolution of symptoms and marked improvement in TTE features of constriction after 6 weeks.DiscussionActinomycosis is an extremely rare cause of pericardial infiltration and constriction yet highly sensitive to penicillin, highlighting the importance of accurate diagnosis. Corticosteroids are a useful adjunct to prevent chronic constrictive pericarditis and to avoid the high morbidity and mortality associated with pericardiectomy.
| S-EPMC10702456 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Primary pericardial angiosarcoma is a rare malignancy of the pericardium with variable clinical features and imaging characteristics. Herein, we report a case of histopathologically confirmed pericardial angiosarcoma in a 66-year-old man. The patient developed cardiac tamponade in a short time period. The transthoracic echocardiography showed the presence of multiple irregular echodensities, heterogeneous in echogenicity, encasing the apex of both ventricles in the pericardial space, initially misinterpreted as pericardial effusion. The patient died of cardiogenic shock despite undergoing a surgical pericardiectomy. Pericardial angiosarcoma can manifest as a mass obliterating the pericardial sac, rather than the typical pericardial effusion observed on echocardiography. Multimodality imaging studies aid in diagnosing primary pericardial angiosarcoma, but the final diagnosis relies on tissue histopathology.
| S-EPMC10897014 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Introduction and importancePrimary malignant pericardial tumors are an entity that is infrequently encountered and may be a cause of pericardial effusion. Primary pericardial leiomyosarcoma are even rarer, and highly aggressive tumors, with no more than 200 cases reported in the literature. In this case report, we are presenting a rare case of a primary pericardial leiomyosarcoma that was diagnosed at our institution. We discuss the available diagnostic modalities and also shed light on alternative therapies when patients are not ideal surgical candidates.Case presentationA 27-year-old male patient was admitted with a gradually worsening dyspnea associated with a deterioration of general condition. Echocardiography examination showed a circumferentiel pericardial effusion with significant fibrin deposits and pericardial thickening. An open surgical biopsy of the pericardium was indicated which was in favor of the diagnosis of pericardial leiomyosarcoma. Unfortunately, the patient died during the procedure.Clinical discussionDespite its rarity, primary pericardial leiomyosarcoma should be considered as a differential diagnosis in the assessment of a pericardial effusion of an unknown etiology. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging is considered to be the reference standard technique for evaluation of a suspected pericardial tumor. Surgical biopsies provide the best odds for detection of the cell of origin, but it's fought with periprocedural risks depending on the site of the tumor.ConclusionPrimary pericardial leiomyosarcomas appear to have a poor prognosis. Surgical approach is the primary modality of treatment. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy should be offered to patients who are not ideal surgical candidates.
| S-EPMC9142710 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Actinomycosis is caused by actinomyces israelii, a gram positive nonacid fast, anaerobic, commensal bacterium within the oral cavity. Though it is a commensal in oral cavity, it seldom presents as cervicofacial actinomycosis. But there is limited access to literature proving cervicofacial actinomycosis existence so far. We report a case of 35 year old gentleman who presented with painless progressive neck swelling associated with pain while chewing food. On examination, 3.5*2.5 swelling was noted in right submandibular gland area, radiologically a foreign body was detected in the right submandibular gland. Mass was excised in toto and sent for HPE which revealed submandibular gland actinomycosis. Post operatively, patient was managed with long-term broad-spectrum beta lactams and was on regular follow-up. No evidence of recurrence/ fresh complaints noted till date. Although cervicofacial actinomycosis is rare and dangerous with debilitating complications, timely diagnosis and early intervention with broad spectrum antibiotics and surgical excision (if required) shows promising results with complete eradication of disease leaving no residues. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12070-023-03498-7.
| S-EPMC10447759 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Renal leiomyosarcomas (LMS) are extremely rare neoplasms with aggressive behaviour and poor survival prognosis. The most frequent somatic events in leiomyosarcomas are mutations in TP53, RB1, ATRX and PTEN genes, chromosomal instability and chromoanagenesis. By using chromosomal microarray analysis we identified monosomy of chromosomes 3 and 11, gain of Xp (ATRX) arm and three chromoanasynthesis regions (6q21-q27, 7p22.3-p12.1 and 12q13.11-q21.2), with MDM2 and CDK4 oncogenes copy number gains, whereas no CNVs or tumor specific SNVs in TP53, RB1 and PTEN genes were observed.
2020-06-04 | GSE151766 | GEO
Project description:BackgroundIntra-cardiac masses are always a challenging diagnosis, especially when it involves the right side of the heart. There are multiples aetiologies that can be responsible for these masses, namely thrombosis, neoplasm, or vegetations. Occasionally, these may be related to an autoimmune process not yet diagnosed. We present a case of a 17-year-old patient with an exuberant right ventricular mass due to a not yet diagnosed Behçet's disease. The best approach and treatment for these patients remains uncertain.Case summaryThe authors present a case of a 17-year-old patient with a right ventricular mass who presented as an initial manifestation of Behçet's disease. It was firstly assumed as a thrombotic mass and medicated with anticoagulation, with no resolution. After performing a cardiac magnetic resonance, the case was discussed in a multidisciplinary team, including cardiology, paediatrics, and rheumatology, and the diagnosis of Behçet's disease with cardiac complication was established. The patient started immunosuppressive therapy with clinical and echocardiographic response.DiscussionBehçet's disease is a multi-systemic autoimmune vasculitis that usually manifests by recurrent oral and genital ulcers as well as ocular symptoms. Cardiac manifestations are rare but important aspects of the course of the disease, especially in what concerns morbidity burden. The treatment of these cardiovascular complications is generally empirical and involves the treatment of the underlying disease.
| S-EPMC8497885 | biostudies-literature
Project description:IntroductionPrimary malignant pericardial mesothelioma is a very rare pericardial tumor of unknown etiology.Case presentationA 61-year-old Caucasian woman was admitted to our hospital complaining of exertional dyspnea due to a large pericardial effusion. Intrapericardial fluid volume declined after repeated pericardiocentesis, but the patient progressively developed a hemodynamically relevant pericardial constriction. Pericardiectomy revealed a pericardial mesothelioma. Subsequently, four cycles of chemotherapy (dosage according to recently published trials) were administered. The patient remained asymptomatic, and there was no recurrence of the tumor after three years.ConclusionPericardial mesothelioma should be considered and managed appropriately in non-responders to pericardiocentesis, and in patients who develop constrictive pericarditis late in their clinical course.
| S-EPMC2767155 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Pulmonary actinomycosis is a rare pulmonary infectious disease that is often challenging to diagnose early and has a high misdiagnosis rate. In some cases, it can be particularly difficult to distinguish pulmonary actinomycosis from lung cancer. We herein report a rare case of pulmonary actinomycosis in which the preoperative examinations strongly suggested lung cancer, leading to the patient undergoing right upper lung resection and bronchoplasty. The patient had a good postoperative recovery; however, the postoperative pathology report indicated pulmonary actinomycosis. In this report, we summarize the key aspects of the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary actinomycosis to aid clinicians in reducing the likelihood of misdiagnosis.
| S-EPMC11467977 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundPericardial mesothelioma (PeM) is a rare disease with non-specific symptoms at the onset, because of its rarity, the relevant literature is limited to case reports and small case series, with no cases exceeding 100 in more than 20 years. As the most common initial symptoms are chest tightness and shortness of breath, early diagnosis is difficult, and the beginning of treatment is easily delayed. We present a rare case of difficult-to-diagnose PeM in which the diagnosis was clarified by surgery and the patient achieved a long survival, providing clinicians with our experience in treating this disease at an early stage of diagnosis and early treatment.Case descriptionA 65-year-old female patient attended Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, complaining about chest tightness and shortness of breath after activity for the last 2 months, accompanied by edema of the lower limbs in last month. A well circumscribed anterior-mediastinal, partially cystic mass was observed on the chest computed tomography. The patient's heart was compressed by the mass, and the patient had cardiac tamponade symptoms. Cardiac ultrasound showed the enlargement of the right heart, a widened pulmonary artery, pulmonary hypertension, and severe tricuspid regurgitation. The nature of the mass could not be determined prior to the surgery. Anterior superior mediastinal tumour resection and partial pericardial resection and closed thoracic drainage in a median open chest were performed, and pathohistological analysis revealed localized pericardial, epithelioid mesothelioma. In a follow-up after 19 months patient was generally well and without specific discomfort.ConclusionsDifferential diagnosis of the anterior mediastinal mass is broad. In patients with a mediastinal tumour who have significant symptoms, are difficult to diagnose and can tolerate surgery, the thoracic surgeon can use surgery as early as possible to make a definitive diagnosis, save the patient's life, and/or improve the patient's quality of life, experienced pathologist is essential to make fast and correct diagnosis.
| S-EPMC9843392 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundPatients with Turner syndrome (TS) are prone to autoimmune disorders. Although most patients with TS are diagnosed at younger ages, delayed diagnosis is not rare.Case presentationA 31-year-old woman was presented with facial edema, chest tightness and dyspnea. She had primary amenorrhea. Physical examination revealed short stature, dry skin and coarse hair. Periorbital edema with puffy eyelids were also noticed with mild goiter. Bilateral cardiac enlargement, distant heart sounds and pulsus paradoxus, in combination with hepatomegaly and jugular venous distention were observed. Her hircus and pubic hair was absent. The development of her breast was at 1st tanner period and gynecological examination revealed infantile vulva. Echocardiography suggested massive pericardial effusion. She was diagnosed with cardiac tamponade based on low systolic pressure, decreased pulse pressure and pulsus paradoxus. Pericardiocentesis was performed. Thyroid function test and thyroid ultrasound indicated Hashimoto's thyroiditis and severe hypothyroidism. Sex hormone test revealed hypergonadotropin hypogonadism. Further karyotyping revealed a karyotype of 45, X [21]/46, X, i(X) (q10) [29] and she was diagnosed with mosaic + variant type of TS. L-T4 supplement, estrogen therapy, and antiosteoporosis treatment was initiated. Euthyroidism and complete resolution of the pericardial effusion was obtained within 2 months.ConclusionHypothyroidism should be considered in the patients with pericardial effusion. The association between autoimmune thyroid diseases and TS should be kept in mind. Both congenital and acquired cardiovascular diseases should be screened in patients with TS.
| S-EPMC7583196 | biostudies-literature