Cardiac MRI-based multi-modality imaging in clinical decision-making: Preliminary assessment of a management algorithm for patients with suspected cardiac mass

BackgroundCardiac masses are rare with high morbidity and mortality that challenging the management. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential role of cardiac-MRI based multi-modality imaging in the clinical decision-making for patients with cardiac mass.MethodsFrom November 2011 to May 2014, 59 consecutive patients (33 females; mean age, 48.2 ± 21.1 [range, 0.6-85] years) with suspected cardiac mass were enrolled in this prospective single center study, underwent MRI based multi-modality imaging and were followed up for survival status. Management strategy (surgery, chemotherapy or observation) was based on patient's clinical status and cardiac mass imaging characteristics (location, morphology, hemodynamics, embolization risk, metastasis, and resectability).ResultsUsing cardiac MRI, 39 patients were diagnosed with intra-cardiac neoplasm (28 benign, 11 malignant) and 20 with pseudo-tumors (13 thrombi, 4 cysts and 3 fat infiltration); 34 masses (23 neoplasms, 11 pseudo-tumors) were eligible for surgical removal, and 4 underwent PET-CT scan to further delineate characteristics and metastasis. Pathological examination revealed high accuracy of cardiac MRI in differentiating benign from malignant tumors (96%), and neoplasm from pseudo-tumors (100%). As for the 16 patients with cardiac neoplasm not surgically treated, the 9 with “benign” masses as per MRI-based multimodality imaging survived during follow-up, while all 7 with “malignancy” died; the 9 with pseudo-tumors not surgically treated also survived with good condition. The median follow-up period is 2 years (10 days-3 years).ConclusionCardiac MRI based multimodality imaging appears useful for risk stratification and clinical decision making for patients with suspected cardiac mass.