Cardiac relapse of extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma manifesting as incessant ventricular tachycardia: a case report. Issue 9 (6th September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kolesnik, Ewald; Stangl, Verena; Haring, Bernhard; Scherr, Daniel; Rainer, Peter P
• Editors: Abumuaileq, Rami Riziq Yousef; Barbieri, Fabian; Ang, Richard; Van den Eynde, Jef; Kott, Katharine
• Is Part Of: European heart journal. Volume 6:Issue 9(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-09-06
• Subjects: Incessant ventricular tachycardia -- Lymphoma -- Cardiac metastasis -- Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphomas -- Case report; Cardiology -- Periodicals; Cardiology -- Case studies -- Periodicals; Heart -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Heart -- Diseases -- Case studies -- Periodicals; 616.12
• DOI: 10.1093/ehjcr/ytac363
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2514-2119

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Cardiac tumours are rare but affected patients may present with symptoms mimicking other cardiac diseases. The most frequent symptoms include heart failure, arrhythmias, or embolic phenomena. Case summary: A 39-year-old man with a history of extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma of the nasal type (ENKTL-NT) in clinical remission presented at our department with incessant ventricular tachycardia. The arrhythmia could only be controlled with a combination of intravenously administered beta-blockers, ajmaline, and amiodarone. Diagnostic workup excluded ischaemia, but imaging revealed a tumour located in the apex of the left ventricle. Endomyocardial biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of cardiac relapse of ENKTL-NT. Upon chemotherapy no further arrhythmias developed. Discussion: Many malignancies can metastasize into the heart. Multimodal imaging including echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, and a positron-emission tomography computed tomography paved the way to the diagnosis that was finally established by endomyocardial biopsy. In the present case, a cardiac metastasis from an ENKTL-NT presented with incessant ventricular tachycardia.