title: Asymptomatic melanoma of the superior cavo-atrial junction: The challenge of imaging.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Tobias Krüger, Ulrich A Stock, Stephen M Wildhirt, Department of Thoracic-, Cardiac-, and Vascular Surgery, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Krüger
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heuschmid
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kurth
authors.forename: Ulrich A
authors.initials: UA
authors.lastname: Stock
authors.forename: Stephen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Wildhirt