A rare cause of dyspnea: Primary large B cell lymphoma causes giant cardiac mass.

Cardiac lymphoma (CL) is a rare and life-threatening clinical condition. Most cases are diagnosed late period. Although the definitive diagnosis is made by biopsy, a biopsy could not be performed in most cardiac masses due to the high mortality rate and therefore the exact incidence is not known.

An unusual cause of angina pectoris due to dynamic coronary artery compression and successful treatment with cardiac surgical reconstruction.

Extrinsic compression of coronary arteries causing angina pectoris is very unusual. No data regarding the optimal treatment for coronary artery compression due to dilated cardiac chambers have been reported. In this case report, we describe a man with severe mitral valve stenosis and the dilated left atrium, which resulted in coronary artery compression, and the successful management of his condition by surgical reconstruction.

A rare presentation of cystic echinococcosis: aortic involvement.

Cystic echinococcosis is an endemic parasitic infestation caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus. Although infestation of any part of human body can occur, isolated cardiac involvement is uncommon. We present a case of isolated hydatidosis involving the ascending aorta.

[A rare cause of heart failure: aortocaval fistula associated with herniated lumbar disc surgery].

Although aortocaval fistula is mostly encountered as a complication of abdominal aortic aneurysms, it may also arise as a complication of lumbar disc surgery. Great arteriovenous shunts especially may lead to high-output heart failure in due time. In this paper, we aim to present a case of high-output heart failure secondary to aortocaval fistule caused by lumbar disc surgery.

Clinical outcome, pain perception and activities of daily life after minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting.

Objective: Minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB) for revascularization of the left anterior descending artery has become a routine operation. We present our clinical experiences with beating heart MIDCAB surgery performed through partial lower sternotomy (PLS) and retrospectively compare the results of pain perception as well as activities of daily life (ADL) with the conventional full sternotomy.

Methods: From January 2009 to August 2012, 197 patients underwent MIDCAB using modified PLS at our hospital.