Right atrial mass diagnosed during endoscopic ultrasound in a patient with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas and dyspnea

 

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A 70-year-old woman with a 10-year history of a 30-mm pancreatic cyst was referred to our center to continue follow-up. Of note, before the procedure she reported worsening dyspnea and fatigue over the last 4 months. However, no significant alterations were found on either preliminary cardiological or pneumological evaluation. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) confirmed the multilocular cystic lesion in the pancreatic body originating from the branch ducts, with focally thickened enhanced walls and a dilation of the main pancreatic duct (6 mm), as per a mixed-type intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (IPMN) with worrisome features. While withdrawing the echoendoscope into the mediastinum, a mainly hyperechoic 70 × 50-mm inhomogeneous mass was detected in the right atrium ([Video 1]), with an extension towards the superior vena cava access ([Fig. 1]). Owing to the suspicion of a cardiac mass, multimodality cardiac imaging was performed, confirming an endoluminal right atrial mass ([Fig. 2]), with inhomogeneous contrast enhancement, partially engaging the atrial outlet of the superior vena cava ([Fig. 3]). Thus, the patient underwent surgical resection of the mass.

Video 1 Accidental diagnosis of a right atrial mass during endoscopic ultrasound in a patient with intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas and dyspnea.

Final diagnosis on the surgical specimen revealed an atrial myxoma. Atrial myxomas are rare tumors that may cause fatigue, syncope, shortness of breath, orthopnea, or pulmonary edema [1]. A few cases of left atrial myxoma have already been described that were found incidentally during EUS [2] [3]. Interestingly, in this case the right atrium was visible due to the presence of the mass and its extension towards the superior vena cava. It is known that the more you look, the more you see, and EUS is a powerful tool for looking at the anatomical structures and abnormalities around the gastrointestinal tract. In this case, the dyspnea prompted our curiosity to examine the cardiac morphology before turning on the light in the endoscopic room.

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Publication History

Article published online:
08 October 2021

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