Open AccessAsymptomatic melanoma of the superior cavo-atrial junction: The challenge of imaging
Author(s) -
Tobias Krüger,
Martin Heuschmid,
Ralf Kurth,
Ulrich A. Stock,
Stephen M. Wildhirt
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
world journal of cardiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1949-8462
DOI - 10.4330/wjc.v4.i1.20
Subject(s) - medicine , asymptomatic , intracardiac injection , radiology , positron emission tomography , melanoma , right atrium , cardiac imaging , computed tomography , fluorodeoxyglucose , metastasis , cancer , cancer research
METASTATIC LESIONS IN THE SUPERIOR VENA CAVA AND THE RIGHT ATRIUM ARE DIFFICULT TO DIAGNOSE: in computed tomography (CT), they are easily misinterpreted as artifacts, and the same region may be difficult to access using echocardiography. We present a case of asymptomatic metastasis of a malignant melanoma which was overlooked initially due to deficiencies in imaging. Using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-CT, the metastasis was clearly identified and finally treated successfully. We discuss the diagnostic value of the various imaging modalities for intracardiac masses.