Intracardiac masses: Single center experience within 12 years: I-MASS Study.

Objective: The aim of this cross-sectional, retrospective, descriptive study was to review and classify cardiac masses systematically and to determine their frequencies. Methods: The medical records of 64,862 consecutive patients were investigated within 12 years. Every patient with a cardiac mass imaged by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and confirmed with an advanced imaging modality such as transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), computed tomography (CT) and/or cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) was included. Acute coronary syndromes triggering thrombus formation, vegetations, intracardiac device and catheter related thrombi were excluded. Results: Data demonstrated 127 (0.195%) intracardiac masses consisting of 33 (0.050%) primary benign, 3 (0.004%) primary malignant, 20 (0.030%) secondary tumors, 3 (0.004%) hydatid cysts and 68 (0.104%) thrombi respectively. The majority of primary cardiac tumors were benign (91.67%), predominantly myxomas (78.79%), and the less malignant (8.33%). Secondary cardiac tumors were common than the primary malignant tumors (20:3), with male dominancy (55%), lymphoma and lung cancers were the most frequent. Intracardiac thrombi was the majority of the cardiac masses, thrombi accompanying malignancies were in the first range (n = 17, 25%), followed by autoimmune diseases (n = 13, 19.12%) and ischemic heart disease with low ejection fraction (n = 12, 17.65%). Conclusions: This retrospective analysis identified 127 patients with cardiac masses. The majority of benign tumors were myxoma, the most common tumors that metastasized to the heart were lymphoma and lung cancers, and the thrombi associated with malignancies and autoimmune diseases were the most frequent.

Magnetic resonance imaging characteristics of cardiac hydatid cyst.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this article is to describe the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of cardiac hydatid disease and show the specific findings in the diagnosis of hydatic cysts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of cardiac MRI records between 2015 and 2017, 7 patients (3 males, 4 females; age range: 14-74) were identified with the histologic diagnosis of cardiac hydatid disease. Cardiac MRI examinations were performed in order to investigate the cardiac cystic-solid lesion obtained via previous echocardiography (ECG) and thorax computed tomography. 1.5 Tesla magnetic field power generation capacity was used and the images were acquired with ECG trigger. RESULTS: There is variation in signal characteristics of cysts on T1-weighted and T2-weighted images. Early contrast enhancement was not observed in the any of lesions on contrast-enhanced series. In all lesions examined, peripheral contrast enhancement was observed in the late contrast enhanced series, independent from the internal structure and signal intensity. CONCLUSIONS: MRI reveals the exact anatomic location and nature of the cyst structures. Peripheral enhancement of non-enhancing lesion is very valuable for diagnosis of cardiac hydatids on MRI.

Giant cardiac hydatid cyst in children: case report and review of the literature.

Cardiac echinococcus is a rare affliction of the heart caused by the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus. Primary echinococcosis of the heart represents 0.5-2% of all hydatid disease cases in endemic regions. It evolves slowly, explaining its rarity in children. We report the case of a 11-year-old child affected by a giant cardiac cyst of the left ventricle (LV). The patient underwent cardiac surgery and medical treatment. A retrospective review of the current literature was realized. We found 18 cases: the mean age was 11-years old. Nine cysts were localized in the LV, four in the interventricular septum, three in the right ventricle, and two in the right atrium. All underwent surgery except six patients. Routine echocardiographic screening may be useful in endemic regions where infestation is common. Cardiac echinococcus should be diagnosed in the early and uncomplicated stages and be removed surgically even in asymptomatic patients.