In Search of a Less Invasive Approach to Cardiac Tumor Diagnosis: Multimodality Imaging Assessment and Biopsy

Assessment of cardiac tumors by 18F-FDG PET/CT imaging: Histological correlation and clinical outcomes

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the diagnostic value of 18F-FDG PET/CT in distinguishing benign versus malignant cardiac tumors as well as to assess its prognostic value.

METHODS

We analyzed 38 patients with cardiac tumors who underwent 18F-FDG PET/CT and followed for median 8.5 ± 12.5 months. SUVmax and TBRmax (maximum tumor-to-background ratio) by receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were used to obtain threshold for the diagnosis of malignancy as defined by histology (n = 38). Survival was assessed and correlated with the dignity of the lesions and PET parameters.

RESULTS

Optimal cut-off values indicating malignancy were as follows: SUVmax = 3.44, with 100% sensitivity and 92.9% specificity, and TBRmax = 1.55, with 95.8% sensitivity and 92.9% specificity. A significant difference of 18F-FDG uptake was observed between primary benign (n = 14, SUVmax = 2.35 ± 1.31, TBRmax = 1.05 ± 0.50) compared to primary malignant cardiac tumors (n = 11, SUVmax = 8.90 ± 4.23, TBRmax = 3.82 ± 1.44) as well as cardiac metastases and lymphoma (n = 13, SUVmax = 14.37 ± 8.05, TBRmax = 6.19 ±  3.38) (all P < .001). Survival rate was significantly lower in patients with malignant as compared to benign cardiac tumors (P < .05). Regression analysis revealed that the lesion dignity determined by the cut-off value of SUVmax was an independent predictor for death in patients with cardiac tumors (P < .05).

CONCLUSION

18F-FDG uptake in cardiac tumors can differentiate between benign and malignant cardiac tumors and predicts survival.

Interventional Strategies in Cancer-induced Cardiovascular Disease

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To highlight the range of illnesses and procedures that the interventional onco-cardiologists face in their daily practice, along with the recent additions to anti-cancer therapies and their related cardiotoxicity.

RECENT FINDINGS

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are not devoid of cardiotoxicity as thought earlier and lead to an increased incidence of myocarditis. Transcatheter valve replacement has been shown to be a safer alternative to surgical replacement in cancer patients. Interventional onco-cardiology is a novel field that addresses cardiovascular diseases in the setting of cancer. Traditionally excluding cancer patients from clinical trials has led to a dearth of information needed to tackle cardiac conditions like Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, malignant pericardial effusions, and radiation-induced vascular diseases encountered either exclusively or predominantly in this high-risk population. This review discusses the various treatment options available in the interventional armamentarium with a particular focus on ICI-myocarditis and transcatheter aortic valve replacement in cancer patients.

Sarcoma of the Heart Treated with Stereotactic MR-Guided Online Adaptive Radiation Therapy

We present the first case in the literature of a patient with a histology-proven intimal sarcoma of the heart, recurrent after surgery, treated with stereotactic MR-guided online adaptive radiation therapy on an MR-Linac machine. The treatment was feasible and well tolerated. The CT scan 6 months after the last treatment showed stable disease.

Extracardiac Intrapericardial Mass Impersonating as Left Atrial Mass: Echocardiographic Perspectives

Extracardiac intrapericardial masses arising posterior to left atrium (LA) often mimic an intracardiac LA mass on echocardiography. Although transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) is the primary screening tool to detect any cardiac mass, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is proven superior to TTE in delineating the size, morphology, and exact site of origin of LA masses. We report a case, where the preoperative TTE diagnosed an LA mass which was later confirmed to be an extracardiac intrapericardial mass by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and intraoperative TEE. The mass was compressing the LA, and the timely diagnosis avoided the opening of the LA for mass excision.

Cardiac Interventional Procedures in Cardio-Oncology Patients

Comorbidities specific to the cardio-oncology population contribute to the challenges in the interventional management of patients with cancer and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Patients with cancer have generally been excluded from cardiovascular randomized clinical trials. Endovascular procedures may represent a valid option in patients with cancer with a range of CVDs because of their minimally invasive nature. Patients with cancer are less likely to be treated according to societal guidelines because of perceived high risk. This article presents the specific challenges that interventional cardiologists face when caring for patients with cancer and the modern tools to optimize care.