Cardiac Masses (from a 15-Year Experience With 389 Surgical Cases).

Cardiac masses are highly heterogeneous and vary widely in their clinical presentation, imaging features, and survival outcomes. Our understanding is limited by their rarity and the fact that few are confirmed based on surgical pathology. We set out to provide a comprehensive analysis of all cardiac masses resected at our institution from 1999 to 2015, including imaging methods and histopathologic findings. We found papillary fibroelastomas (PFEs) to be the most commonly resected benign cardiac masses, followed by myxomas. Patients with PFEs most frequently presented with cerebrovascular accidents and transient ischemic attacks, whereas those with myxomas were more likely to present with arrhythmias and palpitations. In contrast, primary malignant cardiac masses were much rarer; angiosarcoma was the predominant subtype with a poor prognosis. Renal cell carcinomas were the most commonly discovered primary cancer for metastatic cardiac masses, and calcified amorphous tumors were the most prevalent non-neoplastic masses. For the detection of cardiac masses, transthoracic echocardiography was the most frequently used but least sensitive of the imaging methods analyzed. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was the most sensitive imaging method. Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography had similar sensitivity to TEE but was the least frequently used imaging method. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging performed well in detecting most masses; PFEs, for which TEE was the most sensitive, was the exception. In conclusion, we found that PFEs were the most commonly resected benign cardiac masses, and TEE was the most accurate imaging method for the detection of all surgically removed masses at our institution.

Emergent pulmonary thromboembolectomy and atrial septal aneurysmectomy for intracardiac impending paradoxical embolism: An en bloc approach to prevent clot embolism and facilitate repair.

Although a patent foramen ovale (PFO) is relatively common, confirmed reports of thrombus entrapped within a PFO are uncommon. Management of impending paradoxical embolism (IPE), also called a thrombus in transit, lacks consensus but includes systemic anticoagulation (e.g., heparin), systemic thrombolysis, or surgical thrombectomy. We present a case of IPE diagnosed with intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) as well as a novel en bloc approach to atrial septal aneurysmectomy to minimize embolism and facilitate repair of the interatrial septum. Timely use of intraoperative TEE may aid in diagnosis and help guide the surgical approach to minimize embolic risk with an IPE.

Unusual Cause of Heart Failure in a Patient with Marfan Syndrome: A Late Complication of Bioprosthetic Valved Graft Replacement.

A high-velocity gradient across the left ventricular outflow tract is most often caused by aortic valve stenosis. We describe the unusual case of a high-velocity gradient caused by a kinked ascending aortic graft in a 69-year-old man who had Marfan syndrome. The patient had a history of ascending aortic aneurysm and had previously undergone replacement of the aortic root and ascending aorta with use of a bioprosthetic valved graft. The kinking was caused by dilation of the native aortic arch. The patient underwent successful hemi-arch replacement and repair of the kinked graft. Late complications and reoperation after proximal aortic surgery in patients with Marfan syndrome are rare, and a high-velocity left ventricular outflow tract gradient caused by the kinking of the aorta is unusual.

Echocardiography in centenarians: characteristics, utility and follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Echocardiography has been shown to be a valuable resource in the diagnosis of many cardiac conditions, and can be used in all age groups, from the fetus to the oldest old. In the context of an increasingly aging population, the impact and utility of echocardiography in centenarians is largely unknown. This study is to determine whether echocardiography in centenarians aids in making clinical patient management decisions. METHODS: A retrospective review of echocardiograms from 1986 to 2014, at two affiliated tertiary centers, in individuals who were 100 years or older at the time of the examination. Patient and echocardiogram characteristics, management decisions based on echocardiography, and mortality were documented. RESULTS: 114 centenarians had echocardiograms, with ages ranging from 100 to 107 years (101 ± 1.4 years). In 82 of the centenarians evaluated (72%), no changes in management occurred as a consequence of the echocardiogram. From all management changes directly related to the echocardiogram, 81% (n = 26) of these corresponded to medication adjustments; interventional or surgical procedures followed the echocardiogram only in 4% (n = 5) of the total number of centenarians. Echocardiogram-based changes in management were only significant in patients that were referred for congestive heart failure (P = 0.02). After the echocardiogram was performed, 1-month and 1-year mortality were 15% and 47%, respectively. The median survival after the echocardiogram was obtained was 13 months (range 0.03 to 145 months), with no difference if there was a change or no change in management (P = 0.21). CONCLUSIONS: Among centenarians undergoing echocardiography, despite additional diagnostic information, echocardiograms in centenarians influence management in a minority of cases, most commonly in the form of medication changes for treatment of heart failure. A significant proportion of centenarians are deceased within a year of undergoing echocardiographic assessment. These findings may question the overall utility of echocardiography in these late survivors.

Cardiac melanoma: Retrospective review of a rare disease at the Mayo clinic (1988-2015).

BACKGROUND: Melanoma metastasizing to the heart (cardiac melanoma) is a rare entity that has been described only in autopsy studies or isolated pre-mortem case reports. We aim to better characterize cardiac melanoma, and describe its presenting features, imaging findings, and disease course with a case series collected over nearly 30years. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of all patients diagnosed with cardiac melanoma at the Mayo Clinic from 1988 to 2015. Qualitative analysis was performed on patient demographics, clinical history, and imaging modalities. RESULTS: 11 patients (7 male, median age 63years) were identified with cardiac melanoma. Shortness of breath (64%) was the most common presenting symptom. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was utilized in the assessment of all patients though it failed to identify 20% of masses that were seen on fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG PET/CT) or cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). The majority of masses were located within the cardiac chambers (46% right atrium, 18% right ventricle, 18% left atrium), and 36% appeared mobile on TTE. Patients lived for a median of 68months (interquartile range [IQR] 14-143months) after the initial diagnosis of primary melanoma, and only 12months (IQR 2-150months) after diagnosis of cardiac melanoma. CONCLUSION: Echocardiography can generally identify most cases of cardiac melanoma, though it misses one-fifth of masses seen on FDG PET/CT or CMR. Cardiac melanoma is associated with a poor prognosis.

Visual Estimation of the Severity of Aortic Stenosis and the Calcium Burden by 2-Dimensional Echocardiography: Is It Reliable?

OBJECTIVES: Guidelines have recommended aortic valve surgery in asymptomatic patients with severe aortic stenosis and a large aortic valve calcium burden. The purpose of this study was to determine whether visual assessment of aortic valve calcium and stenosis severity are reliable based on 2-dimensional echocardiography alone. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 68 patients with aortic stenosis and compared them with 30 control participants without aortic stenosis. All had aortic valve calcium score assessment by computed tomography. In a random order, 2-dimensional images without hemodynamic data were independently reviewed by 2 level 3-trained echocardiographers, who then classified these patients into categories based on aortic valve calcium and stenosis severity. RESULTS: The 68 patients (mean age ± SD, 74 ± 10 years) were classified as having mild (n = 28), moderate (n = 22), and severe (n = 18) aortic stenosis. When the observers were asked to grade the degree of valve calcification, the agreement between them was poor (κ = 0.33-0.39). The visual ability to determine stenosis severity compared with Doppler echocardiography had high specificity (81% and 88% for observers 1 and 2). However, sensitivity was unacceptably low (56%-67%), and the positive predictive value was poor (44%-50%). Agreement was fair (κ= 0.58-0.69) between the observers for determining severe stenosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that visual assessment of aortic valve calcium has high interobserver variability; the visual ability to determine severe aortic stenosis has low sensitivity but high specificity. Our results may have important implications for treatment of patients with aortic stenosis and guiding the use of handheld echocardiography. Further research with larger cohorts is needed to validate the variability, sensitivity, and specificity reported in our study.

Papillary fibroelastoma of the pulmonary valve--a systematic review.

The pulmonary valve is the least affected site for valvular papillary fibroelastoma. With increasing use of routine echocardiography and other modalities of imaging, pulmonary valve papillary fibroelastomas (PVPFE) are being recognized more frequently. PVPFE is more often an incidental diagnosis and symptomatic patients usually present with shortness of breath. Embolic phenomena and right ventricular outflow tract obstruction are the most serious complications of PVPFE. Since PVPFE is rare, the purpose of this systematic review is to address demographic characteristics, the clinical presentation, management, and outcome of this benign tumor of the pulmonary valve.

3D echocardiography in cardiac surgery.

Herein, we present a patient who underwent successful repair of failed mitral valve repair in whom intraoperative 3D transesophageal echocardiography provided accurate assessment of the mechanism of mitral regurgitation. In addition, we review the potential advantages and limitations of 3D echocardiography and its role in cardiac surgery.

Valvular heart disease in patients with osteogenesis imperfecta.

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) or "brittle bone disease" is a rare connective tissue hereditary disorder. The most common clinical presentation of OI is bone fractures. OI also involves extraskeletal structures; however, cardiovascular manifestations are rare. In this report, we describe the cardiovascular anomalies of patients with OI who underwent valve surgery and review the literature on this subject.