Transjugular biopsy of a right atrial mass under intracardiac echocardiographic guidance

Percutaneous intravenous catheter forceps biopsy in right atrial mass: two case reports and literature review

Background

Primary malignant tumors of the heart are rare. Although preoperative histological diagnosis is difficult, it has paramount value in therapeutic strategy development and prognostic estimation. Herein, we reported 2 cases of intracardiac tumors.

Cases presentation

Both patients presented to the hospital with heart-related symptoms. Echocardiography showed massive masses in the atrium and positron emission tomography–computed tomography (PET/CT) revealed hypermetabolism and invasiveness. One patient cannot take surgery due to extensive metastasis and poor condition. The other patient was primarily diagnosed with lymphoma, and surgery was not recommended. They successfully underwent intravenous atrial biopsy, and histological samples confirmed intimal sarcoma and diffuse large B cell lymphoma. Based on immunohistochemical and molecular assessments, targeted chemotherapy was administered, resulting in clinical and imaging remission at discharge.

Conclusions

Percutaneous intravenous catheter biopsy as a safe invasive test provides an accurate pathological diagnosis after imaging evaluation, and offers a therapeutic direction. Nonmalignant masses and some chemo-radiosensitive malignant tumors in the atrium could have good prognosis after targeted therapy.

Complications of pericardiocentesis: A clinical synopsis

Pericardiocentesis (PC) is both a diagnostic and a potentially life-saving therapeutic procedure. Currently echocardiography-guided pericardiocentesis is considered the standard clinical practice in the treatment of large pericardial effusions and cardiac tamponade. Although considered relatively safe, this invasive procedure may be associated with certain risks and potentially serious complications. This review provides a summary of pericardiocentesis and a focused overview of the potential complications of this procedure.

Biopsy of cardiac masses using a stabilized intracardiac echocardiography-guided system

Biopsy of a cardiac mass remains a difficult and risky procedure. Successful sampling of target tissue is hampered by continuous cardiac motion and blood flow. Because the surrounding tissues are vascular, complications can include hemorrhage, tamponade, arrhythmia, embolization, and death. Conventional imaging modalities are of limited utility in this dynamic environment. The present report describes the use of the instrumentation system originally designed for creation of direct portocaval shunts with intracardiac echocardiography imaging to perform core biopsies of cardiac and juxtacardiac masses in six patients. There were no hemorrhagic complications, and pathologic diagnoses were obtained in five of six cases.