13th March 2024

Diagnostics

Since patients with cardiac tumours often present with non-specific symptoms, it is vitally important to exercise a high index of suspicion using a combination of history taking, clinical signs and imaging modalities. Chest x-ray and ECG may demonstrate evidence of atrial enlargement or arrhythmias. The recommended first-line investigation for a patient with concerning features of cardiac mass is echocardiography, with trans-oesophageal scans providing more detailed images. If a mass is discovered using this modality, further imaging may be required in the form of computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or positron emission tomography (PET) scan to provide additional diagnostic information and guide management. 

Image source: Wikimedia Commons (2017). UOTW 31 – Ultrasound of the Week 2, Licensed under a Creative Commons licence. Available for free at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:UOTW_31_-_Ultrasound_of_the_Week_2.jpg (Accessed: 28 January 2024).