Nausea and vomiting masquerading heart cancer

Abstract

Primary cardiac tumors are extremely rare, although only 20% are malignant. Of the malignant tumors, sarcomas are the most common type and usually present with signs and symptoms of pericardial effusion or tamponade, including dyspnea, chest pain, or syncope. We present the case of a woman with nausea, vomiting, and epigastric pain who eventually received the diagnosis of a large cardiac angiosarcoma. To our knowledge, no case reports have described patients with primary cardiac tumors presenting with nausea and vomiting without cardiac symptoms. Our patient was treated with open heart resection of the tumor and reconstruction of the right atrium with bovine pericardium. This case highlights an atypical presentation of this rare condition and shows the current optimal management.