Abstract
This imaging review describes the appearance of benign cardiac tumors on CT and MRI. Although rare, benign tumors outnumber their primary malignant counterparts three to one. Since mortality varies directly with invasion, identifying the neoplasm at an early stage helps focus treatment, especially in benign cases, which generally respond well to surgical resection. In adults and children, myxomas and rhabdomyomas, respectively, represent the most common benign tumors, which can be grouped into tissue-s pecific subtypes, such as rhabdomyomas, fibromas, lipomas, teratomas, etc. Besides their variable prevalence in particular age groups, these tumors also differ with regard to their gender predilection, location, and number. For example, myxomas appear predominantly in women and generally as a solitary mass in the left or right atrium, whereas rhabdomyomas present equally in boys and girls and chiefly as multiple masses in the ventricles. Despite their differences, however, both types share an association with heritable syndromes like the Carney complex for myxomas and tuberous sclerosis for rhabdomyomas. As with all cardiac tumors, echocardiographic findings usually suggest the initial diagnosis but cross-sectional imaging with CT and MRI can help resolve diagnostically challenging cases. For example, with its direct multiplanar capability, excellent contrast resolution, and large field of view, MRI permits a detailed examination of the entire mediastinum, helping to rule out an equivocal mass on echocardiography. Through dynamic techniques, MRI, in addition to morphologic characterization, can depict the pathophysiological effects of these tumors, for instance, with regard to myocardial contraction, valvular function, or blood flow.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 12-21 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Current Problems in Diagnostic Radiology |
| Volume | 34 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 2005 |
| Externally published | Yes |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
Cite this
CT and MR imaging findings of benign cardiac tumors. / Restrepo, Carlos S; Largoza, Art; Lemos, Diego F.; Diethelm, Lisa; Koshy, Prakash; Castillo, Patricia; Gomez, Rafael; Moncada, Rogelio; Pandit, Meenakshi.
In: Current Problems in Diagnostic Radiology, Vol. 34, No. 1, 01.2005, p. 12-21.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - CT and MR imaging findings of benign cardiac tumors
AU - Restrepo, Carlos S
AU - Largoza, Art
AU - Lemos, Diego F.
AU - Diethelm, Lisa
AU - Koshy, Prakash
AU - Castillo, Patricia
AU - Gomez, Rafael
AU - Moncada, Rogelio
AU - Pandit, Meenakshi
PY - 2005/1
Y1 - 2005/1
N2 - This imaging review describes the appearance of benign cardiac tumors on CT and MRI. Although rare, benign tumors outnumber their primary malignant counterparts three to one. Since mortality varies directly with invasion, identifying the neoplasm at an early stage helps focus treatment, especially in benign cases, which generally respond well to surgical resection. In adults and children, myxomas and rhabdomyomas, respectively, represent the most common benign tumors, which can be grouped into tissue-s pecific subtypes, such as rhabdomyomas, fibromas, lipomas, teratomas, etc. Besides their variable prevalence in particular age groups, these tumors also differ with regard to their gender predilection, location, and number. For example, myxomas appear predominantly in women and generally as a solitary mass in the left or right atrium, whereas rhabdomyomas present equally in boys and girls and chiefly as multiple masses in the ventricles. Despite their differences, however, both types share an association with heritable syndromes like the Carney complex for myxomas and tuberous sclerosis for rhabdomyomas. As with all cardiac tumors, echocardiographic findings usually suggest the initial diagnosis but cross-sectional imaging with CT and MRI can help resolve diagnostically challenging cases. For example, with its direct multiplanar capability, excellent contrast resolution, and large field of view, MRI permits a detailed examination of the entire mediastinum, helping to rule out an equivocal mass on echocardiography. Through dynamic techniques, MRI, in addition to morphologic characterization, can depict the pathophysiological effects of these tumors, for instance, with regard to myocardial contraction, valvular function, or blood flow.
AB - This imaging review describes the appearance of benign cardiac tumors on CT and MRI. Although rare, benign tumors outnumber their primary malignant counterparts three to one. Since mortality varies directly with invasion, identifying the neoplasm at an early stage helps focus treatment, especially in benign cases, which generally respond well to surgical resection. In adults and children, myxomas and rhabdomyomas, respectively, represent the most common benign tumors, which can be grouped into tissue-s pecific subtypes, such as rhabdomyomas, fibromas, lipomas, teratomas, etc. Besides their variable prevalence in particular age groups, these tumors also differ with regard to their gender predilection, location, and number. For example, myxomas appear predominantly in women and generally as a solitary mass in the left or right atrium, whereas rhabdomyomas present equally in boys and girls and chiefly as multiple masses in the ventricles. Despite their differences, however, both types share an association with heritable syndromes like the Carney complex for myxomas and tuberous sclerosis for rhabdomyomas. As with all cardiac tumors, echocardiographic findings usually suggest the initial diagnosis but cross-sectional imaging with CT and MRI can help resolve diagnostically challenging cases. For example, with its direct multiplanar capability, excellent contrast resolution, and large field of view, MRI permits a detailed examination of the entire mediastinum, helping to rule out an equivocal mass on echocardiography. Through dynamic techniques, MRI, in addition to morphologic characterization, can depict the pathophysiological effects of these tumors, for instance, with regard to myocardial contraction, valvular function, or blood flow.
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=12144260146&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1067/j.cpradiol.2004.10.002
DO - 10.1067/j.cpradiol.2004.10.002
M3 - Article
C2 - 15644859
AN - SCOPUS:12144260146
VL - 34
SP - 12
EP - 21
JO - Current Problems in Diagnostic Radiology
JF - Current Problems in Diagnostic Radiology
SN - 0363-0188
IS - 1
ER -