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When is a mass not a mass? An unusual presentation of prominent crista terminalis
Handi Salim1, Amitabh Palit2, Abdul Maher3
1Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire, Coventry, UK.
Insights
Echocardiography revealed a right atrial mass, initially concerning for myxoma. Cardiac MRI clarified this was a prominent crista terminalis, a normal structure mimicking a tumor.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiac Imaging
- Anatomy
Background:
- Echocardiography can reveal masses in the right atrium.
- Differential diagnoses for right atrial masses include myxoma.
- Anatomical variants can mimic cardiac pathology.
Abstract:
This case report describes a patient in whom echocardiography showed borderline left ventricular hypertrophy and a mass adjacent to the right atrial wall. This naturally caused some concern as the differential diagnoses included that of a right atrial myxoma and further investigations were organised. A subsequent cardiac MRI revealed this thickening to be a prominent crista terminalis. The crista terminalis is a variant of normal anatomical structures within the right atrium, which mimics an atrial mass.
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