Evil lurks in the heart of man: Cardiac paraganglioma presenting as recurrent dyspnoea and chronic cough

Jessica Moline, Joanne Ngeow, Prabhakar Rajiah, Charis Eng

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

A man in his 60s presents with chronic dyspnoea and cough for 3 years. EKG and nuclear stress test were not diagnostic. An echocardiogram revealed moderate pericardial effusion. His symptoms improved with ibuprofen temporarily and a repeat echocardiogram showed resolution of the effusion. However, when his symptoms recurred, re-imaging showed a large intracardiac tumour causing right ventricular outflow obstruction. Subsequent histological examination revealed metastatic paraganglioma. He was found to carry a germline mutation in the SDHB gene which is associated with higher malignant risk. Knowledge of his underlying mutation allowed the patient and his family to receive appropriate gene-specific counselling and surveillance.

Original languageEnglish (US)
JournalBMJ Case Reports
DOIs
StatePublished - 2011

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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