Ten-year survival after resection of a huge rhabdomyosarcoma in the pericardial cavity

Background: Primary malignant cardiac tumors are exceedingly rare and cardiac rhabdomyosarcoma among them is an exceptional rarity characterized by a dismal poor prognosis.

Case presentation: A 48-year-old man had suffered from a persistent cough lasting for more than 6 months and computed tomography showed a huge mass in the pericardial cavity with heterogeneous content. Following referral to our department for suspected cardiac malignancy, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging revealed a lucent layer on the boundary around the mass, suggesting the feasibility of surgical resection. A baby-head-sized mass in the pericardial cavity was entirely resected and the pathological examination confirmed a tumor as a spindle cell type rhabdomyosarcoma. The patient underwent adjuvant chemotherapy and has well survived over a decade after surgery without any sign of recurrence.

Conclusion: Radical resection with adjuvant chemotherapy may achieve a favorable outcome for patients with massive rhabdomyosarcomas inside the pericardial cavity.