Diagnostic features of cardiac hemangioma on cardiovascular magnetic resonance, a case report.

Cardiac hemangiomas are benign cardiac tumors that account for 5-10% of all benign tumors of the heart (Grebenc ML, Rosado de Christenson ML, Burke AP, Green CE, Galvin JR. Radiographics 2000; 20(4): 1073-1103). They occur in any cardiac location, including the pericardium (Brodwater B, Erasmus J, McAdams HP, Dodd L. J Comput Assist Tomogr 1996; 20(6): 954-956). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has an excellent contrast resolution and multiplanar capability to allow optimal evaluation of myocardial infiltration, pericardial involvement and/or extracardiac extension (Brown JI, Barakos JA, Higgins CB. J Thorac Imaging 1989; 4(2): 58-64). This is a case report of cardiac hemangioma involving the ventricular septum with radiological and pathological correlation. It illustrates the capability of the MRI to non-invasively detect histological and flow characteristics of the tumor.