Intracardiac masses detected by echocardiography: Case presentations and review of the literature

Intracardiac masses are often diagnosed by transthoracic echocardiography ( TTE). Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) improves overall visualization of masses, especially those located in the posterior cardiac structures. M asses in the heart are most commonly due to thrombi or valvular vegetations ; however, a variety of tumors may also present as cardiac masses on echoca rdiography. Tumors of the heart most commonly occur in the setting of metas tatic disease, usually from malignancies of the breast, lung, or from malig nant melanoma. Primary cardiac tumors occur much less frequently and are us ually benign. Atrial myxomas constitute nearly one-half of reported primary cardiac tumors. The following discussion details the findings of five case s that illustrate the spectrum of intracardiac tumors detected by echocardi ography and reviews the relevant literature.