Sudden Cardiac Death as the First Symptom of Cardiac Tuberculoma

Tuberculosis is one of several preventable and curable communicable diseases that is a major cause of morbidity and one of the top ten causes of death worldwide. Cardiac tuberculosis frequently affects the pericardium. Although rare, most cases of tuberculosis involving the myocardium and endocardium present as sudden cardiac death in asymptomatic patients. Information regarding the myocardial and endocardial involvement of tuberculosis appears in the literature once in a blue moon. As a result, there is a knowledge gap about cardiac tuberculosis among health professionals.

This chapter aims to review the challenges related to the diagnosis and management of cardiac tuberculoma and provide the latest information from the literature on the diagnosis and management that allows appropriate management and monitoring of potential associated complications. In addition, the mechanisms for complications and sudden cardiac deaths are reviewed to break new ground in early diagnosis and therapy. Furthermore, to illustrate this, an exemplary case of sudden cardiac death from tuberculoma of the right atrium with a secondary thrombus causing bicaval obstruction observed in an asymptomatic immunocompetent young man is presented. This case report provides valuable insights into the rare but critical issue of cardiac tuberculoma, shedding light on its early diagnosis and management for healthcare professionals.