%0 Case Reports
%T An extranodal Richter's syndrome presenting with cardiac diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a case report.
%A Wang H
%A Yan WH
%A Sun JJ
%A Dong M
%A Zhang N
%A Liu T
%A Song NP
%A Zhong L
%J BMC Cardiovasc Disord
%V 23
%N 1
%D 2023 12 21
%M 38129785
%F 2.174
%R 10.1186/s12872-023-03663-4
%X Richter's syndrome (RS) defines the transformation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia into high-grade lymphoma, which usually involves lymph nodes and bone marrow. Extranodal involvement of the heart is an extremely rare condition. Patients with heart involvement tended to have a low response to chemotherapy and relative poor prognosis. The transformation process of RS is often insidious and nonspecific making it challenging to diagnose.
A 64-year-old woman wih a history of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) presented with intermittent chest pain and was diagnosed with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). However, the contrast enhanced echocardiography revealed a large irregular mass, measuring about 75.4 mm × 37.5 mm, located on the lateral and posterior wall of the right ventricle. Biopsy of the cardiac mass and the results revealed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
We present a case of a 64-year-old woman with aggressive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma involving the heart. This case could provide some insights in the diagnosis of cardiac lymphoma.