Background: Cardiac tumors, either benign or malignant, are rare.
Malignant tumors have a poorer prognosis than benign tumors; however
both are associated with significant morbidity in cases of delayed
management. The goal of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic value
of Cardiac MRI in tissue characterization of cardiac masses. Methods:
we interpreted and analyzed separately the imaging data of 27 patients
who met the inclusion criteria and performed CMR at MRI unit in
National Heart Institute in Giza. Results: CMR has not only the ability
to differentiate between benign and malignant lesions but also has the
ability to differentiate between different types of benign tumors in
most of cases by determination the location of the cardiac mass, its
mobility, presence of pedicles and the variable MR signal intensity in
different pre and post contrast sequences. In contrast to the malignant
lesions, CMR shows a difficulty in the differentiation between different
types of malignant lesions and usually needs histopathological correlation. However CMR shows
a great value in determining the extent of the malignant lesions that is needed before planning the
therapeutic management. Conclusion: CMR has a great role in evaluation of the cardiac masses
by its powerful assessment of the anatomical and soft tissue characterization of the masses as well
as their functional impact and so it allows the differentiation between neoplastic and nonneoplastic masses as well as between malignant and benign masses that is necessary in pretherapeutic planning without the need of the unnecessary invasive biopsy