Primary cardiac natural killer/T-cell lymphoma, a very rare form of lymphoma

Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann. 2019 Mar;27(3):210-212. doi: 10.1177/0218492318798230. Epub 2018 Sep 12.

Abstract

Extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma is a rare non-Hodgkin lymphoma that is divided into nasal, non-nasal, and aggressive/leukemia subtypes, according to anatomic origin and clinical manifestations, with each subtype carrying a different prognosis. We present a case of primary cardiac natural killer/T-cell lymphoma with extension to other organs in a 38-year-old man, to highlight the role of imaging in categorizing nasal versus non-nasal types. This distinction has relevant implications for patient care because the non-nasal type has a much lower survival rate.

Keywords: Heart neoplasms; Lymphoma; Positron-emission tomography computed tomography.; extranodal NK-T-cell.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Computed Tomography Angiography
  • Coronary Angiography / methods
  • Heart Neoplasms* / diagnostic imaging
  • Heart Neoplasms* / immunology
  • Heart Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Heart Neoplasms* / surgery
  • Humans
  • Lymphoma, Extranodal NK-T-Cell* / diagnostic imaging
  • Lymphoma, Extranodal NK-T-Cell* / immunology
  • Lymphoma, Extranodal NK-T-Cell* / pathology
  • Lymphoma, Extranodal NK-T-Cell* / surgery
  • Male
  • Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography