Abstract
Transthoracic echocardiography is usually the initial diagnostic test in patients with a suspected cardiac mass. However, this technique is restricted by its small field of views and insufficient acoustic window in some patients. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and, since its introduction, multislice spiral computed tomography allow for detailed delineation of intra and pericardiac tumors, their extent, and their influence on cardiac function. Primary benign and malignant cardiac tumors have several characteristic features in MR imaging. Assessment of such features may narrow down the differential diagnosis or even allow for reliable diagnosis in selected cases. Many such features can also be assessed using MSCT. This article provides an overview of examination protocols of MRI and CT for cases in which a cardiac mass is suspected and describes the appearance of primary and secondary cardiac masses as well as intracavitary thrombi.
MeSH terms
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Adult
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Aged
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Child
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Contrast Media
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Diagnosis, Differential
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Echo-Planar Imaging / methods
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Electrocardiography
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Female
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Fibroma / diagnosis*
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Fibroma / diagnostic imaging
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Gadolinium DTPA
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Heart Atria
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Heart Diseases / diagnosis
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Heart Diseases / diagnostic imaging
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Heart Neoplasms / diagnosis*
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Heart Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
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Heart Neoplasms / secondary
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Heart Valves
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Heart Ventricles
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Hemangioma / diagnosis*
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Hemangioma / diagnostic imaging
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Hemangiosarcoma / diagnosis*
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Hemangiosarcoma / diagnostic imaging
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Humans
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Lipoma / diagnosis*
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Lipoma / diagnostic imaging
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Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
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Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine / methods
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Male
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Middle Aged
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Myxoma / diagnosis*
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Myxoma / diagnostic imaging
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Pheochromocytoma / diagnosis*
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Pheochromocytoma / diagnostic imaging
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Prognosis
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Rhabdomyoma / diagnosis*
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Rhabdomyoma / diagnostic imaging
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Thrombosis / diagnosis
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Thrombosis / diagnostic imaging
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Tomography, Spiral Computed / methods*
Substances
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Contrast Media
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Gadolinium DTPA