CARDIAC MYXOMA - IDENTIFICATION OF INTRATUMORAL HEMORRHAGE AND CALCIFICATION ON MR-IMAGES

Myxoma is the most common benign cardiac neoplasm. Echocardiography, especially with a transesophageal approach (transesophageal echocardiography [TEE]), is accurate in locating cardiac tumors and in revealing their cystic components [1, 2]. Additionally, MR imaging provides information about the internal structures of these tumors, such as hemorrhage and other components [3]. In some cases, a diagnosis can be made from the location, shape, and number of the tumors. Determination of the internal components of the tumor may increase the specificity of a diagnosis. We report a case in which a left atrial myxoma was detected by TEE; however, the technique failed to show the internal features of the tumor, which were visible on MR imaging.