Burkitt Lymphoma Presenting as an Intracardiac Mass: Case Report and Review of Literature

Abstract

Patient: Male, 27Final Diagnosis: Burkitt lymphoma with intracardiac massSymptoms: Dizziness • fatigue • palpitations • weight lossMedication: —Clinical Procedure: Catheter-directed thrombolytic therapy with intracardiac infusion of alteplaseSpecialty: HematologyObjective:Rare diseaseBackground:Non-neoplastic causes such as infections and thrombi account for most intracardiac masses. Primary tumors such as myxomas and metastasis from breast cancer, lung cancer, or melanomas account for many of the remaining cases. Burkitt lymphoma manifesting as an intracardiac mass is a rare entity, with 21 cases reported in the English literature.Case Report:We report the case of a man infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who presented with non-specific cardiac symptoms and was later found to have intracardiac mass caused by Burkitt lymphoma. His rapid decline with unexpected complications was reversed with prompt management. Subsequent to induction, the patient achieved a near complete response with considerable improvement in his condition.Conclusions:Lymphoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of intracardiac masses. Associated cardiac symptoms are frequently non-specific and can often be overlooked or underappreciated. Burkitt lymphoma has a short doubling time and an intracardiac lesion can become life-threatening in a matter of days. Early recognition and prompt treatment are crucial to achieving optimal outcomes.

Epstein-Barr Virus: From Kissing Disease to Broken Heart

“…Chan et al, did a review of the literature and found only 22 cases reported in the English literature including their case. Only 7 of these were in patients with confirmed negative HIV status [4].…”

“…Mortality is high as reported back in 2008 by Chan et al In their review of the literature almost 50% of the 22 cases and with the longest surviving patient reported to be alive at 36 months after the diagnosis [4]. With new chemotherapy regimens, better imaging modalities, and multidisciplinary management of these patients, early diagnosis and more effective treatment prevent these patients from getting locally advanced cardiac involvement.…”

“…BL by itself represents just 1% Open Access Case Report DOI: 10.7759/cureus.7704 of all non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) and has a prevalence in the general population of 0.30 per 100,000 people [2]. In patients with Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) this percentage can reach almost 30% [3,4]. In the current literature, most of the reported cases of lymphoma involving the heart presented in immunocompromised patients with HIV.…”

Primary Hepatic Burkitt Lymphoma in a Kidney Transplant Recipient

“…Due to rarity of its occurrence accurate epidemiology and etiology of PHBL are not established. In our patient, BL was associated with acquired immunodeficiency, due to chronic immunosuppressive therapy for KTx [ 4 ], but also with Epstein-Barr viremia [ 5 ]. Epstein-Barr virus, a member of the human herpes virus family, is a linear, double-stranded DNA virus that was initially isolated from a cultured BL cell line by Epstein et al in 1964.…”

Burkitt's Lymphoma Presenting as Endobronchial Lesion

“…Systemic symptoms are seen less than 25% of patients. Rarely cardiac and pulmonary involvement may be seen [3]. Patients can present with cough, dyspnea and chest pain.…”