Incremental value of cardiac magnetic resonance for the evaluation of cardiac tumors in adults: experience of a high volume tertiary cardiology centre

AbstractTo assess the value of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) in evaluating cardiac tumours in a tertiary cardiology centre. Between 2004 and 2014, 125 patients (pts.) from a total of 17000 who received a CMR examination in our institution were referred with the suspicion of cardiac tumours. A dedicated protocol was used that included standard cine SSFP acquisitions as well as tissue characterization using T1 and T2 black-blood (T1 BB and T2 BB respectively) with and without fat suppression, perfusion of the structure and late gadolinium enhancement. Patients ’ files were retrospectively analysed and data related to clinical status, results from other examinations (echocardiography), therapeutic approach and histology results, when performed, were collected. In 65 pts., a diagnosis of cardiac tumour was reached. 45 Pts had a biopsy. The CMR examination was concordant with the histology results in 35 (76%) pts. superior to that showed by echocardiography, 26 (58%) pts., p = 0.03. Forty-two (65%) pts. had a benign tumour and 23 (35%) a malignant process. Myxoma was the most frequent benign tumour, 27 (65%) and cardiac metastases were the most f requent form of malignancies, 21 (91%), with B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma being the most frequent one, 4 (19%). Benign tumours were mostly located in the left atrium, 27 (64%) versus 6 (26%), p = 0.007, whereas malignant tumours had a predilection for the right atrium und left ventricle [11 (48%) vs. 3 (7%), p = 0....
Source: The International Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging - Category: Radiology Source Type: research