CARDIAC INVOLVEMENT IN MALIGNANT LYMPHOMA

Abstract

ALTHOUGH k cases of malignant lymphoma, corresponding clinical manifestations are uncommon and when they do occur usually give rise to considerable diagnostic difficulty. The nature of the diagnostic problem varies with the stage in the development of the lymphoma at which the cardiac symptoms appear. In the rare cases in which the early or presenting symptoms are those of heart disease, the correct diagnosis has seldom been made before autopsy. When a patient known to have a malignant lymphoma complains of cardiac symptoms, the neoplastic origin of these symptoms may be recognized, but in older patients they may be attributed to coronary artery disease. In the terminal stages, anemia and obstructive symptoms and signs often produce a picture closely resembling congestive cardiac failure and the presence of cardiac involvement may be overlooked. The clinical manifestations of heart disease of lymphomatous origin are discussed in this report, and the nature of