The value of transthoracic echocardiography in the detection of extra-cardiac lesions

Figures

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  Fig. 1. Left hilar lung cancer in a 51-year-old man. A and B TTE showed an irregularly shaped hyperechoic mass near the left hilum of the pulmonary artery bifurcation with left pulmonary artery and left pulmonary vein invasion. C Contrast-enhanced CT shows an irregularly shaped mass with mediastinal lymph node metastasis and obstructive atelectasis. D The pathologic diagnosis of this mass was moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. TTE indicates transthoracic echocardiography; CT indicates computer tomograph; LA, left atrium; PA, pulmonary artery

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  Fig. 2. Anterior mediastinal mass (thymoma) in a 30-year-old woman. A and B TTE showed a well-circumscribed round mass in the anterior mediastinum. C and D Contrast-enhanced CT showed an regularly shaped mass with the uniform density and the moderate enhancement. E and F The pathologic diagnosis of this mass was type AB thymoma. The gross specimen shows an intact capsule and a grayish cut surface. TTE indicates transthoracic echocardiography; CT, computer tomograph; asterisks, mass

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  Fig. 3. Anterior mediastinal mass (teratoma) in a 59-year-old man. A and B TTE showed a well-circumscribed round cystic-solid mass in front of the aorta and pulmonary artery. C and D Contrast-enhanced CT showed a round like abnormal density shadow with smooth boundary, with liquid and fat density shadow in it, presenting as fat liquid plane, with slightly thick wall and annular calcification and no obvious enhancement. E and F The pathologic diagnosis of this mass was mature cystic teratoma. The wall of the capsule is thick and the structure of bean curd residue can be seen in it. TTE indicates transthoracic echocardiography; CT indicates computer tomograph; AO indicates aorta; AAO indicates ascending aorta; PA, pulmonary artery

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  Fig. 4. Middle mediastinal mass (pericardial cyst) in a 41-year-old woman. A and B TTE showed a well-circumscribed anechoic mass between the heart and the liver. C and D Contrast-enhanced CT showed a regularly shaped mass with the cystic hypodensity and no enhancement. E The pathologic diagnosis of this mass was pericardial cyst. The wall of the cyst was lined with cuboidal epithelium, and the cavity was filled with clear cystic fluid. TTE indicates transthoracic echocardiography; CT, computer tomograph; asterisks, mass

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  Fig. 5. Posterior mediastinal mass (esophageal cancer) in a 69-year-old man. A TTE showed a round hypoechoic or heterogeneous echo mass with hypoechoic periphery and irregular hyperechoic interior, similar to “pseudo kidney” shape. B and C Contrast-enhanced CT showed a regularly shaped mass with inhomogeneous low-density shadow, obvious inhomogeneous enhancement behind left atrium. The esophageal wall was diffusely and irregularly thickened, and the corresponding lumen was irregularly narrow. D The pathologic diagnosis of this mass was esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. TTE indicates transthoracic echocardiography; asterisks, mass; LA, left atrium