Surgical resection and epicardial lead implantation for primary cardiac lymphoma with a complete atrioventricular block: a case report

BACKGROUND: Primary cardiac lymphoma (PCL) is a rare cardiac tumour with various presentations, which might cause a complete atrioventricular (AV) block, which can, in turn, cause heart failure symptoms. CASE SUMMARY: We report a case of a 55-year-old woman with a chief complaint of exertional dyspnoea. Her vital signs showed bradycardia, and electrocardiography revealed a complete AV block. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed a large intra-cardiac mass in the right atrium. Full-body positron emission tomography showed an elevated fluorodeoxyglucose uptake in the right atrial mass, interatrial septum, and wall of the left atrium. Since the tumour could obstruct the tricuspid valve, urgent tumour debulking surgery and epicardial lead implantation were performed. Histopathological examination results were consistent with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. After several courses of chemotherapy, we kept her in complete remission of the tumour for 2 years. DISCUSSION: Primary cardiac lymphoma was complicated by a complete AV block and diagnosed by using the samples that we obtained in the surgery. A surgical resection of the tumour and epicardial lead implantation, combined with chemotherapy, can be an option, especially in patients who require cardiac surgery.