Right atrium tumor – pseudoaneurysm of right coronary artery. A rare complication after percutaneous coronary intervention

Cardiac masses include tumors, thrombi, vegetations, calcific lesions and other rare conditions [1]. An increasing number of reports describe pseudoaneurysm formation as a complication of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). Such a pseudoaneurysm may potentially create a bulge that mimics a cardiac mass. Therefore, it is necessary to include pseudoaneurysm in the differential diagnosis of cardiac masses.
We present a case of a 56-year old man, who was referred for a right atrial mass that might have corresponded to a myxoma on the basis of its location and characteristics of a cyst. The patient presented symptoms of stable coronary artery disease (CAD) in class III of the CCS scale. Several years previously the patient underwent two PCIs within the right coronary artery (RCA). Initially a bare-metal stent (BMS) was implanted, and a couple of months later a drug-eluting stent (DES) was deployed within the BMS due to diffuse restenosis. Both procedures in the RCA were uncomplicated with no extravasation of contrast dye. Apart from CAD, the medical record included thrombocytopenia.
Prior to surgery, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and coronary angiography (CA) were conducted to determine the diagnosis for the round mass. The TTE revealed a spherical, calcified mass in the right atrium (RA) of 3 × 3 × 2 cm in dimensions (Figure 1 A). Coronary angiography revealed significant stenosis in the RCA (in-stent restenosis) (Figure 1 B) as well as in the left anterior descending (LAD). Cardiac magnetic resonance confirmed the presence of a tumor in the RA in direct communication with the RCA – the suspicion of pseudoaneurysm was made (Figure 1 C). The differential diagnosis included myxoma, thrombus and echinococcal infection. The patient was referred to the operating theater.
During the surgery the patient underwent resection of the pseudoaneurysm with the use of cardiopulmonary bypass and bicaval cannulation. A 2 × 3 × 2 cm oval tumor turned out to be an old round hematoma with signs of fibrosis and calcifications surrounding the RCA with the stent inside (Figure 1 D). Concomitant myocardial revascularization of the RCA was performed using a saphenous vein graft and the LAD was grafted with the left internal mammary artery.
The postoperative period was uneventful. The patient continues to do well with subsequent follow-ups. Histological evaluation revealed a thrombus with advanced fibrosis....


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