Role of Contrast Enhanced Cardiac MRI in Differentiation between Cardiac Masses

Abstract

Background: Cardiac tumors, either benign or malignant, are rare. Malignant tumors have a poorer prognosis than benign tumors; however both are associated with significant morbidity in cases of delayed management. The goal of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic value of Cardiac MRI in tissue characterization of cardiac masses. Methods: we interpreted and analyzed separately the imaging data of 27 patients who met the inclusion criteria and performed CMR at MRI unit in National Heart Institute in Giza. Results: CMR has not only the ability to differentiate between benign and malignant lesions but also has the ability to differentiate between different types of benign tumors in most of cases by determination the location of the cardiac mass, its mobility, presence of pedicles and the variable MR signal intensity in different pre and post contrast sequences. In contrast to the malignant lesions, CMR shows a difficulty in the differentiation between different types of malignant lesions and usually needs histopathological correlation. However CMR shows a great value in determining the extent of the malignant lesions that is needed before planning the therapeutic management. Conclusion: CMR has a great role in evaluation of the cardiac masses by its powerful assessment of the anatomical and soft tissue characterization of the masses as well as their functional impact and so it allows the differentiation between neoplastic and non-neoplastic masses as well as between malignant and benign masses that is necessary in pre-therapeutic planning without the need of the unnecessary invasive biopsy.