title: Magnetic resonance imaging evaluation of cardiac masses.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardiac tumors are extremely rare; however, when there is clinical suspicion, proper diagnostic evaluation is necessary to plan the most appropriate treatment. In this context, cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) plays an important role, allowing a comprehensive characterization of such lesions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To review cases referred to a CMRI Department for investigation of cardiac and paracardiac masses. To describe the positive case series with a brief review of the literature for each type of lesion and the role of cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging in evaluation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between August 2008 and December 2011, all cases referred for CMRI with suspicion of tumor involving the heart were reviewed. Cases with positive histopathological diagnosis, clinical evolution or therapeutic response compatible with the clinical suspicion and imaging findings were selected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 13 cases included in our study, eight (62%) had histopathological confirmation. We describe five benign tumors (myxomas, rhabdomyoma and fibromas), five malignancies (sarcoma, lymphoma, Richter syndrome involving the heart and metastatic disease) and three non-neoplastic lesions (pericardial cyst, intracardiac thrombus and infectious vegetation).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CMRI plays an important role in the evaluation of cardiac masses of non-neoplastic and neoplastic origin, contributing to a more accurate diagnosis in a noninvasive manner and assisting in treatment planning, allowing safe clinical follow-up with good reproducibility.
authors.forename: Maria Fernanda
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Braggion-Santos
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koenigkam-Santos
authors.forename: Sara Reis
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Teixeira
authors.forename: Gustavo Jardim
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Volpe
authors.forename: Henrique Simão
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Trad
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schmidt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018204:Neoplasms, Connective and Soft Tissue / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results