Atypical Intracavitary Cardiac Mass: Tumor or Thrombus?

Adeyinka Adeniyi1, Sandra Abadir1, Kalindi Parikh2

  • 1Internal Medicine, Wellstar Atlanta Medical Center, Atlanta, USA.

Cureus
|March 11, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Contrast perfusion echocardiography can identify cardiac mass malignancy, avoiding costly CT or CMR scans. This non-invasive technique improves diagnosis in resource-limited settings.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Cardiac masses are rare, often thrombi or vegetations, but tumors require differentiation.
  • Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) and CT are established for mass characterization.
  • Accurate diagnosis is crucial for appropriate patient management.

Observation:

  • This case report focuses on contrast perfusion imaging via echocardiography.
  • Transesophageal echocardiography with contrast effectively identified cardiac mass etiology.
  • This method was used as an alternative to CMR and cardiac CT.

Findings:

  • Contrast perfusion echocardiography accurately differentiated cardiac mass types.
  • This technique provided diagnostic information without requiring CMR or CT.
  • Significant cost savings ($100-$1207) were observed compared to advanced imaging.

Implications:

  • Echocardiography with contrast offers a cost-effective diagnostic tool for cardiac masses.
  • This approach enhances diagnostic capabilities in smaller facilities with limited resources.
  • It facilitates timely diagnosis and management of cardiac masses, improving patient outcomes.

Related Concept Videos

Metastasis02:30

Metastasis

Metastasis is the spread of cancer cells from the original site to distant locations in the body. Cancer cells can spread via blood vessels (hematogenous) as well as lymph vessels in the body.
Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or EMT is a developmental process commonly observed in wound healing, embryogenesis, and cancer metastasis. EMT is induced by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) or receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) ligands, which further...
5.7K
Mitral Stenosis II: Clinical features and Diagnostic Tests01:23

Mitral Stenosis II: Clinical features and Diagnostic Tests

Mitral stenosis is a heart condition in which the mitral valve, which allows blood to flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle, becomes narrowed or stenotic. This narrowing hinders blood flow and leads to clinical symptoms requiring specific medical evaluations and management strategies. The following overview outlines the clinical symptoms, assessments, diagnostic findings, prevention methods, and treatments for mitral stenosis.Clinical ManifestationsDyspnea (shortness of breath): This...
40
Venous Thrombosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies01:20

Venous Thrombosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

The key difference between Superficial Vein Thrombosis (SVT) and Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) lies in their location and severity.Clinical ManifestationsSVT typically presents with localized pain, tenderness, and redness along the course of a superficial vein, often accompanied by a palpable, cord-like structure under the skin. This condition is usually less dangerous than DVT but can be uncomfortable and may lead to complications such as cellulitis or, rarely, a clot extension into the deep...
51
Tumor Progression02:07

Tumor Progression

Tumor progression is a phenomenon where the pre-formed tumor acquires successive mutations to become clinically more aggressive and malignant. In the 1950s, Foulds first described the stepwise progression of cancer cells through successive stages.
Colon cancer is one of the best-documented examples of tumor progression. Early mutation in the APC gene in colon cells causes a small growth on the colon wall called a polyp. With time, this polyp grows into a benign, pre-cancerous tumor. Further...
6.5K
Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System V: CT01:28

Imaging Studies for Cardiovascular System V: CT

Cardiac computed tomography (CT) scanning is an advanced cardiac imaging technique that utilizes CT technology, with or without intravenous (IV) contrast, to produce accurate cross-sectional virtual slices of specific areas of the heart, coronary circulation, and major blood vessels such as the aorta, pulmonary veins, and arteries. The computer processes these slices to generate three-dimensional images. Multidetector CT (MDCT) is a rapid form of CT scanning that captures multiple slices...
83
The Tumor Microenvironment02:17

The Tumor Microenvironment

Every normal cell or tissue is embedded in a complex local environment called stroma, consisting of different cell types, a basal membrane, and blood vessels. As normal cells mutate and develop into cancer cells, their local environment also changes to allow cancer progression. The tumor microenvironment (TME) consists of a complex cellular matrix of stromal cells and the developing tumor. The cross-talk between cancer cells and surrounding stromal cells is critical to disrupt normal tissue...
6.8K