Cardiac Masses

Right heart thrombus (RHT) accompanied by chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a rare entity. RHT may develop in the peripheral veins or in situ within the right heart chambers. The diagnosis of RHT is challenging, since its symptoms are typically non-specific and its imaging features resemble those of cardiac masses. Here, we report two cases of RHT with CTEPH that presented as right ventricular masses initially. Both patients underwent simultaneous pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) and resection of the ventricular thrombi. Thus, when mass-like features are confirmed by imaging, RHT should be suspected in patients with CTEPH, and simultaneous RHT resection is required along with PEA.

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Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in differential diagnosis of cardiac masses

European Heart Journal - Cardiovascular Imaging ◽

10.1093/ehjci/jeaa356.334 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (Supplement_1) ◽

Author(s):

EC D"angelo ◽

P Paolisso ◽

L Bergamaschi ◽

A Foa ◽

I Magnani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Differential Diagnosis ◽

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance ◽

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Pericardial Effusion ◽

Tissue Characterization ◽

Descriptive Analysis ◽

Gadolinium Enhancement ◽

Malignant Lesions ◽

T1 And T2 ◽

Cardiac Masses

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public hospital(s). Main funding source(s): S. Orsola Hospital Background Differential diagnosis of cardiac masses represents a challenging issue with important implications for therapeutic management and patient’s prognosis. Cardiac Magnetic Resonance (CMR) is a non-invasive imaging technique used to characterize morphologic and functional features of masses. Integration of these information can lead an accurate diagnosis. Purpose To evaluate the diagnostic role of CMR in defining the nature of cardiac masses. Methods : Ninety-three patients with cardiac masses evaluated with CMR were enrolled. All masses had histological certainty. CMR sequences allowed a qualitative morphologic description as well as tissue characterization. Evaluation of masses morphology included localization, size and borders assessment, detection of potential multiple lesions and pericardial effusion. Tissue characterization resulted from an estimation of contrast enhancement - early gadolinium enhancement (EGE) and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) sequences - and tissue homogeneity in T1 and T2 weighted acquisitions. The descriptive analysis was carried out by comparing benign vs malignant lesions as well as dividing patients into 4 subgroups: primitive benign tumours, primitive malignant tumours, metastatic tumours and pseudotumours. Results The descriptive analysis of the morphologic features showed that diameter > 50mm, invasion of surrounding planes, irregular margins and presence of pericardial effusion were able to predict malignancy (p < 0.001). As for tissue characteristics, heterogeneous signal intensity - independently from T1 and T2 weighted acquisitions - and EGE were more common in malignant lesions (p <0.001). When analysing the four subgroups, CMR features did not discriminate between primitive malignant masses and metastasis. Conversely, hyperintensity signal and EGE were able to distinguish benign primitive lesions from pseudotumors (p = 0.002). Furthermore, using classification and regression tree (CART) analysis, we developed an algorithm to differentiate masses: invasion of surrounding planes was a common characteristic of malignancy and identifies itself malignant tumors. In the absence of invasive features, gadolinium enhancement was evaluated: the lack of contrast uptake was able to exclude a pseudotumor diagnosis and reduced the probability of a primary benign tumor. Conclusions Cardiac magnetic resonance is a very powerful diagnostic tool for differential diagnosis of cardiac masses as it correctly addresses malignancy. Furthermore, an accurate evaluation of the several CMR features, may discriminate primary benign masses and pseudotumours. Abstract Figure. Benign and malignant cardiac masses

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Appropriate use criteria for cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR): SIC—SIRM position paper part 1 (ischemic and congenital heart diseases, cardio-oncology, cardiac masses and heart transplant)

La radiologia medica ◽

10.1007/s11547-020-01332-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 126 (3) ◽

pp. 365-379

Author(s):

Gianluca Pontone ◽

Ernesto Di Cesare ◽

Silvia Castelletti ◽

Francesco De Cobelli ◽

Manuel De Lazzari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Disease ◽

Magnetic Resonance ◽

Heart Transplant ◽

Congenital Heart ◽

Clinical Decision Making ◽

Heart Diseases ◽

Integrated Approach ◽

Clinical Decision ◽

Italian Society ◽

Cardiac Masses

AbstractCardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) has emerged as new mainstream technique for the evaluation of patients with cardiac diseases, providing unique information to support clinical decision-making. This document has been developed by a joined group of experts of the Italian Society of Cardiology and Italian society of Radiology and aims to produce an updated consensus statement about the current state of technology and clinical applications of CMR. The writing committee consisted of members and experts of both societies who worked jointly to develop a more integrated approach in the field of cardiac radiology. Part 1 of the document will cover ischemic heart disease, congenital heart disease, cardio-oncology, cardiac masses and heart transplant.

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Prognostic utility of differential contrast-enhancement patterns on late gadolinium enhancement cardiac MRI (LGE-CMR) in patients with cancer-associated cardiac masses

European Heart Journal ◽

10.1093/ehjci/ehaa946.0223 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽

Author(s):

A Chan ◽

W Dinsfriend ◽

J Kim ◽

R Steingart ◽

J.W Weinsaft

Keyword(s):

Contrast Enhancement ◽

Cancer Patients ◽

Cancer Type ◽

Tissue Properties ◽

All Cause Mortality ◽

Prognostic Utility ◽

Cardiac Masses ◽

Embolic Risk ◽

Lge Cmr

Abstract Background LGE-CMR tissue characterization is widely used to identify cardiac masses (CMASS) in cancer patients – including neoplasm (NEO) and thrombus (THR). Prognostic utility of their differential LGE patterns is unknown. Purpose To determine incremental prognostic utility of LGE patterns in CMASS Methods The population comprised of cancer patients with CMASS on LGE-CMR, for which etiology was classified based on presence (NEO) or absence (THR) of enhancement, and controls matched for cancer type/stage. LGE-CMR tissue properties of NEO was classified based on extent of contrast enhancement – diffusely enhancing (DE), mixed (ME), and predominantly avascular (PA). Clinical follow up was performed for embolic events within 6 months of CMR and all-cause mortality. Results 330 cancer patients (55% M; 55±16yo) with an array of cancer diagnoses (19% sarcoma, 17% GI, 13% GU) were studied. Among CMASS+ pts (n=190), 66% had NEO and 34% had THR on LGE. All THR were non-enhancing. Among NEO, LGE pattern was variable (46% DE, 41% ME, 13% PA); ME lesions were larger than other groups (Fig. 1A). Quantitative tissue properties were consistent with qualitative groups, as evidenced by stepwise variation in signal intensity and CNR. Cumulative embolic events were 3-fold higher in CMASS+ than controls (All: 20% vs. 7%, p=0.001; PE: 13% vs. 5%, p=0.02; CVA/systemic embolism: 10% vs. 3%, p=0.01). Median time to event was 1.3 months [IQR 0.1–2.3] from CMR. Aggregate events were similar between NEO and THR, reflecting similar rates of PE and CVA (p=NS). Among CMASS pts with embolic events, 56% were on anticoagulation at time of event (59% NEO, 50% THR, p=0.61). Regarding CMASS morphology, emboli were 3-fold higher among intracavitary (IC) or highly mobile (HM) CMASS (IC: 25% vs 7%, p<0.001; HM: 38% vs 12%, p=0.001). Regarding location, right sided CMASS were associated with a 3–5 fold increase in PE (IC: 19% vs 6%; HM: 35% vs 7%, both p<0.001) and similar CVA events among left sided CMASS (IC: 17% vs. 6%, p=0.02; HM: 33% vs 6%, p=0.05). Embolic events were similar when partitioned based on quantitative LGE patterns between patients with and without embolic events. As for all-cause mortality, NEO on CMR conferred increased mortality than THR (HR 3.06 [CI=1.84–5.1], p<0.001) and matched controls (HR 2.08 [CI=1.42–3.04], p<0.001) during a median follow-up of 9.4 months [IQR 3.6–23.2]. Among NEO subgroups (Fig. 1B), survival was lower in patients with heterogeneous LGE patterns vs matched controls: the lowest survival in ME (p=0.002) suggests increased vascularity and tumor hypoxia/necrosis associated with aggressive tumors and hence larger lesions. Conclusions Among cancer patients, CMR-evidenced CMASS confers high short-term embolic risk, which are equivalently common between NEO and THR. Intra-cavitary location and increased mobility augment embolic risk irrespective of CMASS tissue properties whereas differential LGE patterns on CMR strongly impact prognosis. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

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