Approach to Cardiac Masses Using Multimodal Cardiac Imaging

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Incidental cardiac masses present diagnostic challenges due to varied differentials.
• Tissue confirmation often requires invasive procedures, posing risks.
• Advancements in cardiac imaging offer noninvasive diagnostic solutions.

Observation:

• A case report details a patient with an incidentally discovered intracardiac mass during routine evaluation.
• Transthoracic echocardiography identified a small mass on the tricuspid valve.
• This mass was not visualized on subsequent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.

Findings:

• Cardiac imaging modalities, including echocardiography and MRI, have distinct values and limitations in diagnosing cardiac masses.
• Noninvasive imaging is increasingly effective in characterizing intracardiac lesions.

Implications:

• A proposed workflow for utilizing various imaging modalities can aid in the conclusive diagnosis of undifferentiated cardiac masses.
• Improved noninvasive diagnostic strategies can reduce the need for invasive procedures in evaluating cardiac masses.