A case of rhabdomyosarcoma of the right ventricle

SUMMARY A patient is described who presented with symptoms suggesting pericarditis and cardiac tamponade, and who was found at necropsy to have a rhabdomyosarcoma of the right ventricle. The presenting features of right ventricular tumours are discussed and some useful pointers to the correct diagnosis suggested. Primary sarcomas of the heart are rare and difficult to diagnose. Approximately 300 such tumours of varying histological types have been described. We present a case of rhabdomyosarcoma of the right ventricle mimicking pericarditis and cardiac tam-ponade. In this situation the electrocardiogram may be a useful diagnostic pointer. Case report A 23-year-old housewife was admitted to hospital as an emergency in 1976. She had been quite well until two months earlier when she developed