Cardiac magnetic resonance in cardiac angiosarcoma

While echocardiography is effective for initial identification of anatomic location, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a more advantageous modality for delineating tumor expanse, spread, and blood supply preoperatively. Emerging patterns may even help generate a specific diagnosis prior to biopsy and histopathology.

Our case of a 67-year-old male referred for cardiac magnetic resonance to further evaluate a cardiac mass highlights the sophisticated level of data which can be collected. Our case highlights the perfusion related findings associated with cardiac angiosarcoma.

In this case, we present the diagnosis of right atrial cardiac angiosarcoma by multiple imaging modalities including MRI and subsequent angiography, allowing for prompt surgical intervention and initiation of adjuvant therapy that resulted in a survival time of 19 months.