RIGHT-SIDED CARDIAC TUMORS-DETECTED BY TRANSESOPHAGEAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY AND ITS USEFULNESS IN DIFFERENTIATING THE BENIGN FROM THE MALIGNANTONES

Eighteen patients (3 men and 15 women; mean age 63 years) with right-s ided tumors were evaluated by both transthoracic and transesophageal e chocardiography from 1989 to 1996. The indications for echocardiograph ic studies included evaluation for a presumed mass and further evaluat ion of ventricular function and valvular function. Fifteen patients ha d right atrial tumors. These included 5 hypernephromas, 4 myxomas, 2 a ngiosarcomas, 1 lipoma, 1 cavernous hemangioma, 1 hepatoma, and 1 chon drosarcoma. Three patients had right ventricular (RV) tumors: 1 metast atic olfactory neuroblastoma, a leiomyosarcoma, a chondrosarcoma, and a fourth patient had infiltration of the RV free wall of unknown etiol ogy. Biopsy of either right atrial or RV masses was performed with tra nsesophageal echocardiographic guidance in 2 patients, and allowed his tologic diagnosis before surgical resection. These findings indicate t hat tumors are more often found in the right atrium than in the right ventricle, and females predominate. Most tumors arising within the rig ht atrium are benign, whereas those extending into the right atrium fr om outside are malignant. RV tumors are rarely encountered; when prese nt, they are likely to be malignant. (C) 1997 by Excerpta Medica, Inc.