An Unusual Left Atrial Mass in a Woman with Active Breast Cancer and Recent Cardiothoracic Surgery

Abstract

Atrial masses are rare and more often localized in the right atrium. They are usually detected incidentally, and the leading causes are tumors, thrombi, or infective vegetations. However, normal structures and artifacts (“pseudomasses”) should also be considered in differential diagnosis, especially after cardiac and/or aortic surgery. We present a case of an unusual left atrial image observed on transthoracic echocardiography in an 83-year-old woman after an intervention of open-chest ascending aorta replacement and myocardial revascularization.

Diagnostic Challenges of a Mass in the Left Atrium

“…A mass in the left atrium can be challenging to diagnose. The leading differential diagnoses include thrombus, vegetation and tumor, which may be primary (benign or malignant) or metastatic [1]. We would like to present a case of mass in the left atrium found in a 61-year-old woman which turned out to be metastatic invasion to the heart from the lesions in the lungs.…”

Multimodality imaging diagnosis of multiple ventricular thrombosis and massive stroke after gemcitabine and cisplatin chemotherapy for Urothelial Cancer

“…Cancer and chemotherapy are known to be risk factors for developing coagulative disorders, thrombosis, adverse cardiovascular events, and cardiotoxicity. [12] Combined modality gemcitabine–cisplatin chemotherapy is often administered to treat a few solid tumors, including non-small cell lung cancer, esophageal, gastric, testicular, and urothelial neoplasms. [3]…”