Cardiac computed tomography for cardiac masses: a necessity or a luxury?

Figure 1.. Distribution of the subtypes of cardiac masses according to their localization (used with permission).

Figure 2.. CT characteristics of benign versus malignant cardiac masses (used with permission). CT, computed tomography; HU, Hounsfield units.

Figure 3.. Classification of cardiac masses according to World Health Organization classification (used with permission).

Figure 4.. Frequency of the principal primary cardiac masses (used with permission).

Figure 5.. (a) Axial and (b) sagittal cardiac computed tomography images showing a large left atrial myxoma (red arrows) with diastolic prolapse into the left ventricle (used with permission).

Figure 6.. Axial cardiac computed tomography image showing large isodensity in left myocardial masses with calcifications, which suggests cardiac fibroma (red arrow) (used with permission).

Figure 7.. Axial cardiac computed tomography image showing a large low-density mass located on the posterior wall (1) of the left atrium (2) without enhancement, which suggests cardiac lipoma (used with permission).

Figure 8.. Cardiac computed tomography images showing a small homogeneous non-contrast-enhanced mass on the aortic side of the left coronary cusp in association with a papillary fibroelastoma (red arrows). (a) Long-axis view of the three chambers and (b) Long-axis view of the aorta (used with permission).

Figure 9.. Cardiac computed tomography image shows a large, homogeneous, non-contrast-enhanced mass with low attenuation at the right atrium, suggesting cardiac angiosarcoma (black arrow) (used with permission).

Figure 10.. Cardiac computed tomography short-axis image shows a lobulated mass (red arrow) attached to the right ventricular outflow-tract in a patient with known hepatocellular carcinoma (used with permission).

Figure 11.. (a) Axial cardiac computed tomography image shows the presence of thrombus in the left atrial appendage (red arrow) and (b) A late scan showing persistence of low attenuation at a repeat scan 60 s after the first scan (used with permission).

Figure 12.. Axial cardiac computed tomography image shows the presence of annular mitral calcification (white arrow) (used with permission).