Abstract

MAYAYO ARTAL, E.; BALANZA ROURE, R.; FONT FERRE, L.  and  ALVARO NARANJO, T.. Primary cardiac lymphoma: presentation of two cases in immunocompetent patients . An. Med. Interna (Madrid) [online]. 2002, vol.19, n.12, pp.33-35. ISSN 0212-7199.

Background: 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.  Cases: 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 imflamatory focus distant from the tumoral mass. EBERs and LMP for EBV were negative.  Conclusions: 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. 

Keywords : Lymphoma; Heart; Pericarditis; Myocarditis; Epstein-Barr Virus.

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