Favorable Course of Pericardial Angiosarcoma Under Paclitaxel Followed by Pazopanib Treatment Documented by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Abstract

A 31-year–old white male patient was transferred from a local district hospital for suspected pericardial mass. Two months earlier he had been admitted there for worsening shortness of breath and subsequently was diagnosed with a large pericardial effusion. He had no other pertinent past medical history. After pericardiocentesis (1.5 L) there was no evidence of malignant cells on cytology, and a computed tomography scan did not reveal any abnormality. Thus, the incident was interpreted as (viral) infectious pericarditis and the patient clinically improved under anti-inflammatory medication within 4 weeks. After that, while on a holiday in Tunisia, he again reported worsening shortness of breath. On day 6 of his holiday, he suddenly passed out and was admitted to a local hospital for unexplained syncope, where again a large pericardial effusion was seen. This time, after another pericardiocentesis (1 L), a pericardial mass was suspected …