Advanced imaging of cardiac Paraganglioma: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Cardiac ParaGangliomas (PGLs) are rare extra-adrenal tumours that arise from chromaffin cells of the sympathetic ganglia. PGL are often diagnosed incidentally, with no symptoms or symptoms related to cardiovascular dysfunction.

METHODS

Cardiac Computed Tomography (CCT) and Cardiac Magnetic Resonance (CMR) can detect the correct morphology and position of the lesion and provide proper tissue characterization.Nuclear medicine imaging, with Positron Emission Tomography (PET) or Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) with specific radiotracers, can evaluate the functionality of the PGL and to distinguish a secreting from a non-secreting tumour.

RESULTS

In association with biochemical parameters, a multimodal imaging approach, not yet standardized, can be useful both in the diagnosis, in the monitoring and in the treatment planning.

CONCLUSIONS

In this systematic review, we aim to investigate the role of diagnostic imaging, in particular CCT, CMR, PET and SPECT in diagnosis, characterization and monitoring of cardiac PGLs.