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Cavernous hemangioma of the right ventricle: echocardiographic-pathologic correlates
T Cunningham1, G M Lawrie, J Stavinoha
1Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030.
Insights
This case study highlights a rare cardiac hemangioma diagnosed in a teenager using echocardiography. Color flow Doppler imaging proved crucial for visualizing this unusual heart tumor.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Oncology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Cardiac hemangiomas are rare primary tumors of the heart.
- This study focuses on a specific case of cavernous hemangioma.
Observation:
- A 17-year-old male presented with a cardiac mass.
- Two-dimensional echocardiography revealed a barely noticeable, echo-lucent mass with thin walls.
- Color flow Doppler imaging enhanced visualization of the tumor's spatial configuration and surrounding blood flow.
Findings:
- The cavernous hemangioma was difficult to visualize with standard echocardiography due to its characteristics.
- Monoplane transesophageal echocardiography, while not providing detailed visualization, successfully excluded other pathologies.
- Surgical examination confirmed the mass was a cavernous hemangioma attached to the tricuspid valve papillary muscle.
Implications:
- Echocardiography, particularly with Color flow Doppler, is valuable for diagnosing rare cardiac tumors like hemangiomas.
- Transesophageal echocardiography plays a role in ruling out other cardiac conditions.
- Accurate diagnosis and surgical assessment are crucial for managing cardiac hemangiomas.
Abstract:
Cardiac hemangiomas are exceedingly rare primary cardiac tumors. We describe a case of cavernous hemangioma that was diagnosed by two-dimensional echocardiography in a 17-year-old male. The mass was barely noticeable on two-dimensional echocardiography because of its thin walls and echo lucency. Color flow Doppler imaging was very helpful in delineating the flow around the tumor and further enhanced its spatial configuration. Although the mass could not be well visualized with monoplane transesophageal echocardiography, the transesophageal approach excluded other associated pathologic lesions. At surgery, the cavernous hemangioma was attached to the papillary muscle of the tricuspid valve.