Imaging of Cardiac Masses
Vito Maurizio Parato, Silvio Nocco, Gianluca Alunni, Francesco Becherini, Serenella Conti, Umberto Cucchini, Giovanna Di Giannuario, Concetta Di Nora, Donatello Fabiani, Salvatore La Carrubba, Stefania Leonetti, Vincenzo Montericcio, Antonio Tota, Licia Petrella
Abstract
Studying cardiac masses is one of the most challenging tasks for cardiac imagers. The aim of this review article is to focus on the modern imaging of cardiac masses proceeding through the most frequent ones. Cardiac benign masses such as myxoma, cardiac papillary fibroelastoma, rhabdomyoma, lipoma, and hemangioma are browsed considering the usefulness of most common cardiovascular imaging tools, such as ultrasound techniques, cardiac computed tomography, cardiac magnetic resonance, and in the diagnostic process. In the same way, the most frequent malignant cardiac masses, such as angiosarcoma and metastases, are highlighted. Then, the article browses through nontumoral masses such as cysts, mitral caseous degenerative formations, thrombi, and vegetations, highlighting the differential diagnosis between them. In addition, the article helps in recognizing anatomic normal variants that should not be misdiagnosed as pathological entities.