Cardiac mass in a patient with colorectal cancer: “Not all that glitters is gold!”

Two cases of massive mitral annular calcification mimicking left atrial neoplasms

The authors describe two cases of massive mitral annular calcification, initially picked up on echocardiography and suspected of being neoplastic. Subsequent evaluation by CT scanning confirmed the location, aetiology, structure and diagnosis. Both cases demonstrated large masses, with calcification of varying density. This is likely explained by the presence of the previously reported amorphous caseous material demonstrated to be present within such mass structures. Such a feature is described as caseous degeneration. Both patients described have been managed conservatively with medical therapy, predominantly due to their age and general frailty.