cardiovascular disorders
Cardiac Tumors
Diagnosis of Cardiac Tumors
Echocardiography Cardiac MRI Cardiac CT Diagnosis, which is often delayed because symptoms and signs mimic those of much more common disorders, is confirmed by Echocardiography . Transesophageal echocardiography is better for visualizing atrial tumors, and transthoracic echocardiography is better for ventricular tumors. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in Cardiac Diagnosis is frequently used to identify tumor tissue characteristics and provide clues to tumor type. If results are equivocal, gated radionuclide imaging and CT may be helpful. Contrast-enhanced Computed Tomography (CT) in Cardiac Diagnosis can provide detailed information with superior spatial resolution compared to other techniques. Biopsy is not usually done because imaging studies can often distinguish benign from malignant tumors, and biopsy may inadvertently spread cancerous cells in patients with a malignant primary tumor. Extensive testing often precedes echocardiography in patients with myxomas because their symptoms are nonspecific. Anemia; thrombocytopenia; and elevation of white blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and gamma-globulins are common. ECG may show left atrial enlargement. Routine chest x-ray may show calcium deposits in right atrial myxomas or in teratomas seen as anterior mediastinal masses. Myxomas are sometimes diagnosed when tumor cells are found in a surgically removed embolus. Arrhythmias and heart failure in patients with features of Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC) suggest rhabdomyomas or fibromas. New cardiac symptoms and signs in a patient with a known extracardiac cancer suggest cardiac metastases. Chest x-ray may show bizarre changes in the cardiac silhouette. 