title: Growth of hepatocellular carcinoma into the right atrium. A case of antemortem diagnosis with magnetic resonance imaging of the heart.
abstract: We report the unusual case of a 54-year-old man with a right atrial mass (detected by two-dimensional echocardiography) associated with hepatocellular carcinoma. The cardiac mass, following magnetic resonance imaging of the heart, was proved to be due to a direct extension of the liver tumour, via the inferior vena cava, up to the right atrial cavity. We wish to stress that the availability of magnetic resonance imaging renders possible the antemortem diagnosis of cardiac metastasis due to malignant tumours.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Medicine, Western Attica General Hospital, Athens, Greece. glaz@globalnet.gr
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lazaros
authors.forename: Chrysoula
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Samara
authors.forename: Zoi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Nikolakopoulou
authors.forename: Nicolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tassopoulos
mesh_terms: D001344:Autopsy; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D004452:Echocardiography; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000556:secondary*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology