Cardiac varix: an example via a case report of a radiological mimicker of cardiac myxoma

Abstract

Cardiac myxoma is the most frequently encountered primary neoplasm of the heart; however, other tumefactive lesions can share similar radiologic features. We present briefly the case of a 69-year-old man incidentally found to have a mobile right atrial mass that based on initial radiologic findings was considered to represent a myxoma. After pathologic examination, the lesion was determined instead to be a cardiac varix: an endocardial, blood filled cystic space lined by endothelium and considered to represent a dilated vein.

Keywords: Cardiac varix; Echocardiogram; Myxoma; Primary cardiac tumor.