CONTEXT: Spontaneous echo contrast (SEC) is a swirling smoke-like image seen inside the heart chambers or in the great vessels. Left Ventricular (LV) dysfunction is known to predispose patients to SEC. The management of SEC is still not as established. Even in patients with atrial fibrillation, SEC does not improve the prediction of cardio-embolic events beyond that of the clinical scoring.
METHODS: Retrospective cross-sectional study.
RESULTS: The study results included 89 patients with SEC. The mean age was 53.9 ± 14.3, with 67% males. The underlying cardiac condition were ischemic heart disease in 68%, non-ischemic cardiomyopathy in 19.3%, and rheumatic valvular heart disease in 12.5%. The most common comorbities were hypertension (54%), renal insufficiency (34%), and diabetes mellitus (34%). Nineteen percent of the patients were in atrial fibrillation. The location of the SEC was in the left ventricle in 90%. The mean ejection fraction was 34.8 ± 16.3% and the ejection fraction was < 35% in 64%. Eighty eight percent had segmental to global hypokinesia. The prevalence of cardio-embolic events was 10%, of which 9.0% presented as stroke, while only 1.0% presented with acute limb ischemia.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: SEC is an imaging phenomenon that is associated with LV dysfunction with 64% of the patients with an EF of ? 35%. The presence of SEC increases the occurrence of cardio- embolic events in this population with a prevalence of 10% compared to the reported incidence of 1.8 - 2.4% incidence among patients with LV systolic dysfunction. Albeit in higher percentages, the most common co-morbid conditions are also the same risk factors that are independently associated with increased cardiovascular events. That is why the association of SEC with cardio-embolic events as well as its management, is still not well established, and recommendations on anticoagulation still depend on established clinical scoring. Further study that would associate the different characteristics and co-morbid conditions of patients with SEC to cardio-embolic event is in order.

Human ; Male ; Female ; Adult ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Heart Ventricles ; Hypokinesia ; Embolism ; Stroke ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Heart Valve Diseases ; Renal Insufficiency ; Hypertension

INTRODUCTION: Cardiac hemangiomas are rare benign primary tumors.We present the successful management of a patient with a hemangioma causing significant right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) obstruction.
CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 54-year-old  female  with  no  co-morbidities  presented  with  progressive  right-sided  heart failure  symptoms.Examination  revealed  a  prominent right  ventricular  heave,  irregular  cardiac  rhythm,murmurs  consistent  with  pulmonic  stenosis  and  tricuspid regurgitation,  ascites,  and  bipedal  edema.  Given the echo features of the mass and the patient's clinical course,we  favored  a  benign  cardiac  tumor  over  malignancy.Differentials included  myxoma,  fibroma,  and  papillary fibroelastoma. Medical management included enoxaparin and carvedilol as anticoagulation and rate control for the atrial flutter, respectively. Surgical treatment consisted of tumor excision and tricuspid valve annuloplasty.
RESULTS: Intra-operatively, the stalk was indeed attached to the RV free wall. Histopathology was consistent with primary cardiac hemangioma. The patient's post-operative course was complicated by pneumonia, acute kidney injury, and tracheostomy, but she was eventually discharged improved after a month in the ICU.
SIGNIFICANCE: This report highlights a rare primary cardiac tumor in an unusual location. While there have been several reports in the world literature on cardiac hemangiomas, less than ten cases have been shown to have significant RVOT obstruction as in our patient.
CONCLUSION: Cardiac hemangiomas should be part of the differential diagnosis for an intracardiac mass in the right ventricle.  Meticulous  echocardiography  can  be  a  non-invasive and inexpensive aid to diagnosis and pre-operative planning.

Human ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Tricuspid Valve ; Carvedilol ; Enoxaparin ; Tricuspid Valve Insufficiency ; Heart Ventricles ; Tracheostomy ; Myxoma ; Heart Neoplasms ; Propanolamines ; Hemangioma ; Pulmonary Valve Stenosis