Cardiac tumors: the role of cardiovascular imaging

Abstract

Evaluation of cardiac tumors with cardiovascular imaging aims to establish aetiology, identify complications of tumor and help define management strategy. 2D echocardiography remains the primary diagnostic modality. Additional use of newer echocardiographic techniques such as 3D, strain and contrast echocardiography better characterise tumor morphology, tissue characteristics and vascularity respectively. Cardiac MRI and computed tomography provide complementary information and are able to identify extra-cardiac infiltration and also provide further tissue characterisation. This review explores the non-invasive diagnostic approach to evaluation of cardiac tumors.

Keywords::

• cardiac magnetic resonance imaging
• computed tomography
• echocardiography
• masses
• tumors

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending or royalties.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Key issues

• The most common primary cardiac tumors are benign myxomas.

• An integrated approach utilizing clinical history, examination findings together with the results from cardiac imaging investigation is required to produce a non-invasive diagnosis.

• Echocardiography is the first-line investigation to identify tumor location, morphology and hemodynamic complications.

• Advanced echocardiographic techniques such as 3D, strain and contrast echocardiography improve our ability to assess tumor morphology, tissue characteristics and vascularity.

• Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging is able to identify tumor infiltration of myo/pericardium, extra-cardiac structures and better characterize tumor.

• Computed tomography is usually performed to identify the primary site of tumor and identify locations of metastatic spread.

• Positron emission tomography rarely has a role in evaluation of cardiac tumors.

Notes