Diagnosis of a rare cardiac human herpesvirus-8 positive B-cell lymphoma manifestation: a case report of a transoesophageal echocardiography-guided trans-septal catheter biopsy

Introduction: Human herpesvirus-8-associated B-cell lymphoma is a common disease entity in immunocompromised individuals, particularly in patients with chronic HIV-infection or AIDS. However, cardiac manifestations are extremely rare. Tissue for histopathology of left cardiac tumours is most commonly obtained by open surgery.

Case presentation: In this report, we present a case of a solitary left atrial manifestation of an HHV8+ B-cell lymphoma in a 59-year-old patient presenting with B symptoms and a cardiac mass on echocardiography. Due to the high operative risk of the patient, a transcatheter/trans-septal biopsy was performed to establish the diagnosis.

Discussion: In the era of routine trans-septal catheter interventions, this approach may represent a straight-forward, minimally invasive alternative for patients at high risk for surgery.