Primary cardiac lymphoma complicated by cardiogenic shock: successful treatment with chemotherapy delivered under extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support

Primary cardiac lymphomas (PCLs) are rare in immunocompetent patients. Their clinical presentation is highly variable and in case of cardiogenic shock, death is often inevitable with a diagnosis made post-mortem. We report the case of a 65-year old immunocompetent man with cardiogenic shock requiring emergent extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Soon after, a diagnosis of PCL was given and chemotherapy was delivered under ECMO support. The patient was progressively weaned from the mechanical support. Six months later, he had fully recovered.