MRI and CT Appearances of Cardiac Tumours in Adults

Clin Radiol. 2009; 64(12):1214-1230

Hoey ET, Mankad K, Puppala S, Gopalan D, Sivananthan MU

OBJECTIVES: Primary cardiac tumours are rare, and metastases to the heart are much more frequent. Myxoma is the commonest benign primary tumour and sarcomas account for the majority of malignant lesions. Clinical manifestations are diverse, non-specific, and governed by the location, size, and aggressiveness.

METHODS: Imaging plays a central role in their evaluation, and familiarity with characteristic features is essential to generate a meaningful differential diagnosis.

RESULTS: Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become the reference technique for evaluation of a suspected cardiac mass. Computed tomography (CT) provides complementary information and, with the advent of electrocardiographic gating, has become a powerful tool in its own right for cardiac morphological assessment.

CONCLUSIONS: This paper reviews the MRI and CT features of primary and secondary cardiac malignancy. Important differential considerations and potential diagnostic pitfalls are also highlighted.

PMID: 19913133

2 Responses

  1. Ronen Rubinshtein, MD  on November 22nd, 2009

    A very practical review!

  2. Jacobo Kirsch, MD  on November 30th, 2009

    Great review! A definite reference paper!

    Other useful reviews of cross-sectional imaging of cardiac masses include:

    - CT and MR imaging of benign primary cardiac neoplasms with echocardiographic correlation.
    Araoz PA, et al. Radiographics.
    2000 Sep-Oct;20(5):1303-19.
    PMID: 10992020

    - CT and MR imaging of primary cardiac malignancies.
    Araoz PA, et al. Radiographics.
    1999 Nov-Dec;19(6):1421-34.
    PMID: 10555666


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