Intracardiac masses detected by echocardiography: Case presentations and review of the literature

Arlene Lobo, Jannet F. Lewis, C. Richard Conti
2000 Clinical Cardiology  
Intracardiac masses are often diagnosed by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) improves overall visualization of masses, especially those located in the posterior cardiac structures. Masses in the heart are most commonly due to thrombi or valvular vegetations; however, a variety of tumors may also present as cardiac masses on echocardiography. Tumors of the heart most commonly occur in the setting of metastatic disease, usually from malignancies of the
more » ... east, lung, or from malignant melanoma. Primary cardiac tumors occur much less frequently and are usually benign. Atrial myxomas constitute nearly one-half of reported primary cardiac tumors. The following discussion details the findings of five cases that illustrate the spectrum of intracardiac tumors detected by echocardiography and reviews the relevant literature.
doi:10.1002/clc.4960230914 pmid:11016023 pmcid:PMC6655035 fatcat:hwlhnitvcbgqhnlyziejdoywiy