Right atrial thrombus arising from the junction of the right atrium and the inferior vena cava.
BACKGROUND
Cardiac tumors are a rare cause of recurrent syncope which are detected on echocardiography, computed tomographic scan, and/or magnetic resonance imaging. We present echocardiographic, anatomic, and histopathologic images of a cardiac tumor arising from the junction of the right atrium and the inferior vena cava in a young lady.


METHODS
Transthoracic echocardiography, transesophageal echocardiography, postmortem examination (autopsy), and histopathology.


RESULTS
Transesophageal echocardiogram showed a 7×3-cm mobile multilobulated right atrial mass arising from the right atrial wall near the inferior vena cava. The patient was admitted to hospital to undergo cardiac surgery; however, unfortunately, she went in to cardiorespiratory arrest on the eve before surgery. Autopsy showed embolized mass obstructing the main pulmonary trunk, and pathology revealed an old organizing thrombus.


CONCLUSIONS
Cardiac thrombi can mimic appearances of a myxoma on echocardiogram. Delay in thrombus removal surgery can result in increased mortality as seen in our case.
United Hospitalist Service, United Hospital, Allina Health, St. Paul, MN. Electronic address: rajanshu@gmail.com.
Rajanshu
R
Verma
Jesse E Edwards Registry of Cardiovascular Disease, John Nasseff Heart Hospital, St. Paul, MN.
Emily R
ER
Duncanson
United Heart & Vascular Clinic, Nasseff Specialty Center, St. Paul, MN.
Ambareesh
A
Bajpai
Vascular Medicine, Minneapolis Heart Institute-Vascular & Endovascular Services, Minneapolis, MN.
Nedaa
N
Skeik
United Heart & Vascular Clinic, Nasseff Specialty Center, St. Paul, MN.
Salima
S
Shafi
D000328:Adult; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D009232:Myxoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
Cardiac imaging; Cardiac thrombus; Right atrial thrombus; Sudden death; Transesophageal echocardiography