SELECTIVE CORONARY ANGIOGRAPHY IN INTRACARDIAC TUMORS

Cardiac catheterization and selective coronary angiography were performed in ten patients with intracardiac tumors [left atrial myxoma (7), right atrial myxoma (1), angiosarcoma of right heart (1), and right ventricular tumor (1)]. The patient with angiosarcoma had characteristic hemodynamics suggesting cardiac compression. The coronary arteriographic finding included: neovascularization (8); filling defect due to emboli (1); and displacement of coronary artery (1). Tumor neovascularization from branches of the left circumflex or right coronary artery was invariably observed in patients with myxoma. We conclude that invasive studies are safe, provide additional information of academic interest, and occasionally aid in the diagnosis.