Value of the two- and three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography in the diagnosis of cardiac tumors

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the diagnostic value of two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (2D-TEE) and three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3D-TEE) for cardiac tumor. Methods Twenty-seven subjects were examined by 2D-TEE and 3D-TEE, 23 of them were diagnosed and the other 4 were highly suspected with cardiac tumor through transthoracic echocardiography(TTE). The anatomical characteristics of the tumor as well as the adjacent structures were carefully observed, meanwhile, the hemodynamic changes were strictly evaluated. The tumor size were compared with operation results. Results Compared with TTE, TEE can locate cardiac tumors more accurately, provide more morphologic information about some tiny structures such as the tumor pedicle, the nourishing vessels and the surrounding tissue to help us fully recognize the tumor. Conclusions TEE has higher application value than 2D-TTE in the location and the differential diagnosis and identification of cardiac tumors. Key words: Echocardiography, transesophageal; Echocardiography, real-time three-dimensional; Heart neoplasms