Relapse of lymphoma in the heart after a 10-year remission.

A 71-year-old woman presented with intractable cardiac failure 10 years after receiving treatment for lymphoma. Extensive investigations failed to demonstrate a recurrence of her disease, but resolution of her cardiac failure following a trial of chemotherapy and subsequently a cross-sectional echocardiogram suggested intracardiac relapse. This was later confirmed at autopsy. Cardiac metastases should be suspected in patients with malignant disease who develop signs or symptoms related to the heart.