Multimodality Imaging of Cardiac Myxomas

Scientific paper - Review paper

• Author: Maja Hrabak-Paar
• Author: Miroslav Muršić
• Author: Tihana Balaško-Josipović
• Author: Daniel Dilber
• Author: Nikola Bulj
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; School of Medicine; (Department of Pediatrics)
• Author's institution: University of Zagreb; School of Medicine; (Department of Radiology)
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Clinical Medical Sciences; Pediatrics
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: BIOMEDICINE AND HEALTHCARE; Clinical Medical Sciences; Radiology

Abstract (english)

Cardiac myxomas are the most common benign cardiac neoplasms. Echocardiography is the first-line imaging modality used to analyze cardiac masses, allowing the detection of tumor location, size, and mobility. However, additional imaging techniques are required to confirm the diagnosis, evaluate tissue characteristics of the mass, and assess potential invasion of surrounding structures. Second-line imaging includes cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and/or computed tomography (CT) depending on availability and the patient’s characteristics and preferences. The advantages of CT include its wide availability and fast scanning, which allows good image quality even in patients who have difficulty cooperating. MRI has excellent soft-tissue resolution and is the gold standard technique for noninvasive tissue characterization. In some cases, evaluation of the tumor metabolism using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography with CT may be useful, mainly if the differential diagnosis includes primary or metastatic cardiac malignancies. A cardiac myxoma can be identified by its characteristic location within the atria, typically in the left atrium attached to the interatrial septum. The main differential diagnoses include physiological structures in the atria like crista terminalis in the right atrium and the coumadin ridge in the left atrium, intracardiac thrombi, as well as other benign and malignant cardiac tumors. In this review paper, we describe the characteristics of cardiac myxomas identified using multimodality imaging and provide tips on how to differentiate myxomas from other cardiac masses.

• Keywords (english): cardiac masses; cardiac myxoma; computed tomography; echocardiography; magnetic resonance imaging
• Language: english
• Publication type: Scientific paper - Review paper
• Publication status: Published
• Peer review: Peer review
• Publication version: Published version
• Journal title: Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine
• Numbering: vol. 25, no. 6, 204
• p-ISSN: 1530-6550
• e-ISSN: 2153-8174
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.31083/j.rcm2506204
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:105:520988
• Publication: 2024
• Document URL: https://www.imrpress.com/journal/RCM/25/6/10.31083/j.rcm2506204
• Type of resource: Text
• Access conditions: Open access
• Created on: 2025-04-01 11:46:01