B P11 C98 Tumors Affecting the Cardiovascular System Flashcards
The most important consideration in confirming the presence of a cardiac tumor is a _____ in a logical manner to establish a clinically reasonable plan of action
(1) High index of suspicion
(2) The integration of symptoms, physical findings, and imaging characteristics
The initial diagnostic test for a patient with concerning symptoms often involves an imaging test, such as _____.
2DED or cMRI
Depending on the characteristics of this mass and the known comorbidities of the patient, additional imaging may be undertaken. These including three-dimensional (3D) echo with or without contrast, cMRI with gadolinium, coronary angiography (to define the presence of coronary artery disease), positron emission testing (PET) to provide staging for cancer, or computed tomography (CT), including a CT angiogram (CTA) to clarify intrathoracic structures.
A differential diagnosis of a cardiac mass is broad and includes _____.
Tumors
Thrombi
Infection
Artifacts
The most important characteristic in the evaluation of a cardiac mass would be evidence of _____ as an indicator of a benign or malignant tumor
Perfusion into the mass
When considering typically encountered clinical scenarios, a patient with new-onset heart failure and severe left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, who has a 2D-echo image that shows an apical mass, a cardiac tumor is quite unlikely.
This suspicion would be firmly established if there was a severe wall motion abnormality in that region, the mass appeared distinct from the myocardial wall and was lobulated. An LV mass with these characteristics is much more likely to be a _____ as opposed to a tumor.
Thrombus
Another scenario involves a patient with a history of melanoma that is metastatic to other organs, who has routine cardiac imaging and a solid mass is seen in an unusual location. Since there is no wall motion abnormality and no significant valvular disease or clinical signs suggestive of infective endocarditis, a mobile mass on the tricuspid valve is very likely to be a ______ to the heart
Metastatic lesion
Another imaging characteristic that provides insight indicating a tumor is present is the behavior of the mass during cardiac motion. If a tumor is infiltrating the myocardium, it is _____ in a normal fashion.
Unlikely to contract
An LV myocardial apical mass contracting similarly to the surrounding tissue is likely to be either _____ as opposed to a cardiac tumor.
Focal hypertrophy or LV noncompaction
If a cardiac mass changes in size during serial imaging, suspicion of a _____ is much higher
Cardiac tumor
Range of clinical findings that may indicate a Cardiac Tumor
- Completely asymptomatic but an incidental abnormality on imaging
- Low grade fevers
- TIA or CVA
- Positional dyspnea
- Weight loss
- Peripheral embolic events
- Chest discomfort
- CHF
- Upper extremity or neck swelling
- Lower extremity venous thrombosis
- Palpitations
- Arrhythmias
- Pericardial effusion/tamponade
The exact nature and location of a mass is critical in the determination of the likelihood that it is a tumor. A classic example of this principle is _____.
Lipomatous hypertrophy of the intraatrial septum
Differential diagnoses of cardiac masses
- Intracardiac thrombus
- Focal myocardial hypertrophy
- LVNC
- Primary cardiac tumor
- Secondary cardiac tumor (Metastasis)
- Lipomatous hypertrophy of the septum
- Cyst
- Imaging artifact
In terms of primary tumors, approximately ___% are benign and these can be grouped as simple or complex, considering the treatment that is typically required.
The approximately ___% of primary cardiac tumors remaining are malignant and usually are pathologically described as sarcomas
80% Benign
20% Malignant (Sarcomas)
_____ cardiac tumors are 30 times more common than a primary neoplasm with an autopsy incidence of 1.7% to 14%18 or 1:100.14
Secondary or metastatic
The majority (>_____%) of the primary cardiac tumors are nonmalignant; however, because of their location these frequently require surgical treatment.
> 80%
______ constitutes about 50% of all benign cardiac tumors in adults, but only a small percentage of such tumors in children.
Myxoma
_____ are the most common benign tumor in children and account for 40% to 60% of the pediatric cases
Rhabdomyomas
Most myxomas (>80%) are most commonly found in the _____ and in decreasing frequencies in the _____.
LA
LA -> RA -> RV -> LV
The incidence of cardiac myxoma peaks at 40 to 60 years of age, with a female to male ratio of approximately 3:1.
Carney’s complex, an autosomal-dominant condition associated with _____.
- Cardiac myxomas
- Myxomas in other regions (cutaneous or mammary)
- Hyperpigmented skin lesions
- Hyperactivity of the adrenal or testicular glands,
- Pituitary tumors
Carney’s complex occurs at a younger age and should be considered when cardiac myxomas are discovered in atypical locations in the heart
The exact origin of myxoma cells remains uncertain, but they are thought to arise from remnants of _____ in the region of the fossa ovalis, which can differentiate along a variety of cell lines.
Subendocardial cells or Multipotential mesenchymal cells
Myxomas typically form a pedunculated mass with a _____ base (85% of myxomas), but sessile forms can also occur.
Short broad base
Classically, myxomas appear _____. The tumor size can range from 1 cm to more than 10 cm, and the surface is smooth in the majority of the cases.
Yellowish, appear white or brownish, and are frequently friable
A _____ form of myxoma has been reported and contains a surface that consists of multiple fine or very fine villous, gelatinous, and fragile extensions that have a tendency to fragment spontaneously and are associated with embolic phenomena
Villous or papillary myxoma
Histologically, myxomas are composed of _____ that may also contain endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and other elements surounded within an acid mucopolysaccharide substance.
Spindle and stellate shaped cells with myxoid stroma
When symptoms are present, dyspnea, especially dyspnea that is worse while lying on the ____, should alert the astute clinician to the possibility of a myxoma.
Left side
Most clinical presentations related to myxoma result from ______.
MV obstruction (syncope, dyspnea, and pulmonary edema)
Followed by:
Embolic manifestations
A _____ may potentially be heard (a low-pitched diastolic sound heard as the tumor prolapses into the left ventricle)
Tumor plop
In one study, a cardiac auscultation abnormality was detected in 64% of patients, and the most common auscultation findings are a _____.
Systolic murmur (50%)
Loud first heart sound (32%)
Opening snap (26%)
Diastolic murmur (15%)
The reason for the systolic murmur may be caused by damage to the valves, failure of the leaflets to coapt, or narrowing of the outflow tract by the tumor
A diastolic murmur is present due to obstruction of the mitral valve from the tumor.
Tumor plop may be confused with a mitral opening snap or a third heart sound and can be detected in up to 15% of cases.
Laboratory test abnormalities in myxomas may include ______, which is present in approximately 75% of the patients.
Anemia
Elevated serum gamma globulin
Elevated ESR
Elevated serum CRP
A 2D echo usually should demonstrate a mass in the atrium, with the stalk attached to the _____ but myxomas have been reported in all chambers of the heart
Interatrial septum
The only definitive treatment of cardiac myxoma is _____.
Surgical removal
Generally, the myxoma is surgically excised using cardiopulmonary bypass and cardioplegic arrest
The recurrence rate of myxoma has varied but one large experience suggests that is quite low and may be below 1%
Valvular structures may have a papillary fibroelastoma attached, which is often found incidentally.
These are small in size, typically less than 2 cm, and most commonly occur on the _____.
Aortic valve followed by the mitral valve
Fibroelastomas may result in embolic phenomena, and when situated on the aortic valve or the left ventricle, can cause _____.
Coronary ostial occlusion
Grossly, fibroelastomas have a characteristic _____, and histologically the tumor has an _____.
Gross:
Frond like appearance, resembling a sea anemone
Histologically:
Inner central core of collagen surrounded by a layer of acid mucopolysaccharides and covered by endothelial cells