Primary cardiac lymphoma presenting double obstruction of the right ventricle

Primary cardiac lymphoma (PCL) is an extremely rare cardiac malignancy, typically associated with a poor prognosis. We present a case of PCL causing right heart failure due to obstruction of the inflow and outflow of the right ventricle. The tumor was highly mobile, prompting an urgent debulking surgery that was successfully performed. Subsequent chemotherapy was effective, leading to remission 8 months after presentation. Although chemotherapy is the standard treatment for PCL, surgical treatment should be considered for patients with PCL leading to heart failure due to tumor-induced hemodynamic instability and/or have highly mobile tumors to prevent sudden death from tumor embolisms.

Learning objective

We describe a case where primary cardiac lymphoma (PCL) presented with right heart failure due to obstruction of the inflow and outflow of the right ventricle. The case emphasizes the role of urgent surgical intervention even before chemotherapy to prevent sudden death. It stresses the importance of cardiologists and surgeons to be well-acquainted with the conditions necessitating surgical intervention in PCL cases.