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Updated: Mar 31, 2026
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Cardiac Magnetic Resonance for the Evaluation of Suspected Cardiac Thrombus: Conventional and Emerging Techniques
Published on: June 11, 2019
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Giant right atrial mass obliterating the right atrium
Ahmad Al-Fakhouri1, Inyong Hwang2, Shadwan F Alsafwah2
1Department of Internal Medicine, Methodist South Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA; fakhouri_md@yahoo.com.
Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives
|October 22, 2015
Summary
A73-year-old man with metastatic melanoma experienced shortness of breath due to a large mass in his right atrium. Echocardiography confirmed the mass obstructing the tricuspid valve inflow, leading to chemotherapy treatment.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Oncology
- Radiology
Background:
- A 73-year-old male patient with a history of mechanical aortic valve replacement and metastatic melanoma presented with dyspnea.
- The patient's medical history included unknown primary melanoma with liver metastasis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report a rare case of a large right atrial mass in a patient with metastatic melanoma.
- To highlight the diagnostic utility of transthoracic echocardiography in evaluating cardiac masses.
Main Methods:
- Clinical presentation and medical history review.
- Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was performed to visualize the cardiac mass.
- Chemotherapy was administered as the treatment modality.
Main Results:
- TTE revealed a large, homogenous mass occupying the right atrial cavity.
- The mass extended to and nearly obstructed the tricuspid valve inflow area.
- The patient's symptoms of shortness of breath and dyspnea on exertion were attributed to the cardiac mass.
Conclusions:
- Large right atrial masses can occur in patients with metastatic melanoma.
- Echocardiography is crucial for diagnosing and assessing the extent of cardiac masses.
- Chemotherapy is a potential treatment option for managing such cases.
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