Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Case Report
Abstract: Primary cardiac angiosarcoma (PCAS) is a rare, highly aggressive malignancy characterized by a dismal prognosis. We present a case of a 34-year-old woman with no history of trauma who initially presented with persistent rib pain misdiagnosed as costochondritis. Comprehensive evaluation revealed multiple osteolytic bone metastases originating from a right atrial PCAS, accompanied by circumferential pericardial effusion. Despite initiation of palliative chemotherapy and radiotherapy, the patient succumbed to progressive disease five months after diagnosis. This case underscores three critical clinical considerations: (1) metastatic bone involvement may manifest solely as localized, refractory pain; (2) isolated pain without overt cardiac symptoms poses significant diagnostic challenges and risks delayed recognition; and (3) unexplained bone pain-particularly when concurrent with pericardial effusion-warrants prompt multimodal imaging and interdisciplinary evaluation involving oncology, cardiology, and pain medicine. By detailing the clinical, radiological, and histopathological findings, we aim to raise awareness among pain specialists and oncologists of this rare yet life-threatening cardiac malignancy and to advocate earlier diagnostic suspicion in atypical pain presentations.
Source: Frontiers in Oncology
Authors: Meng Cai, Xiaodi Chen, Jie Li, Rong Liu, Chang Zhou
Language: English
Topic: Cardiac tumors and thrombi
Subfield: Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,801
OpenAlex ID: W7153883472