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The non-Hodgkin lymphoma is a neoplastic entity that presents in extranodal form in 20 % of cases, usually occurs as solitary or generalized lymphadenopathy. There may be misdiagnosis if it manifests as primary extranodal disease because the primary infiltration may occur with different organs, despite the difficulty of diagnosis of primary extranodal location of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, histological and immunohistochemical studies are effective in preventing misdiagnosis. The presentation of this case is to describe this condition in its extranodal variety with cardiac infiltration in a 23 year-old woman with progressive dyspnea. Tumor mass was detected in right-atrial, venous catheterization biopsy was performed, this enabled the histopathological diagnosis and establish treatment. We present experiences from the attention of the case and review of the literature with special reference to diagnosis and treatment.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma comprises a heterogeneous group of haematological malignancies, classified according to their clinic, anatomic-pathological features and, lately, to their molecular biomarkers. Despite the therapeutic advances, nearly half of the patients will die because of this disease. The new diagnostic tools have been the cornerstone to design recent therapy targets, which must be included in the current treatment guidelines of this sort of neoplasms by means of clinical trials and evidence-based medicine. In the face of poor diagnoses devices in most of the Mexican hospitals, we recommend the present diagnose stratification, and treatment guidelines for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, based on evidence. They include the latest and most innovative therapeutic approaches, as well as specific recommendations for hospitals with limited framework and therapy resources.

Cardiac tumors are rare entities in clinical practice, with an incidence of 0.05%. Approximately 75% are benign and 25% malignant. Among these, Lymphomas are uncommon, representing about 0.25%. The non-Hodgkin lymphomas can occur in extranodal tissues in 20% of the cases and 80% of these non-Hodgkin lymphomas are composed of diffuse B cells. The extranodal presentation is most frequent in young adults, with a high degree of malignancy and rapid growth. It can present with primary infiltration of various organs; cardiac involvement occurs in 20 to 28% of cases, usually located in the right chambers and with nonspecific symptoms, depending on the location and extent of the tumor. The diagnostic test in these cases is undoubtedly the biopsy of the lymph node or the affected tissue. We present the case of non-Hodgkin disease of diffuse large cells, with right intra-atrial involvement in a 23-year-old-female patient, who presented with progressive dyspnea. A transesophageal echocardiography was performed and an intra-atrial tumor mass was detected. A biopsy was performed, by femoral venous catheterization, allowing the establishment of the histopathological diagnosis and treatment. At a one year follow up, the patient shows complete remission.

Lymphoma is a lymphoid cell cancer that originates in lymphoid tissues. Non Hodgkin (NHL) type represents 90% of cases. In Mexico, NHL constitutes the third most common cancer in males and the sixth among females. NHL treatment has achieved significant advances in the last decade and NHL is currently becoming a disease with a high probability of cure. Rituximab has become an alternative for the treatment of NHL. Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody that targets the CD20 antigen expressed in the mature malignant B cells. It induces NHL B cells destruction by complement-mediated citotoxicity, apoptosis and sensitization to the toxic effect of chemotherapy. Rituximab has revolutionized treatment results by offering patients with aggressive NHL a higher possibility of cure and in the case of the intractable forms of NHL it increases the disease free period. The standard treatment for a patient with NHL is rituximab-CHOP (immunotherapy). In addition, rituximab has pharmacoeconomic advantages as shown in various cost-utility and cost-effectiveness studies.