Growing Cardiac Hemangioma on Serial F-18 FDG PET/CT

Nucl Med Mol Imaging. 2012 Sep;46(3):223-6. doi: 10.1007/s13139-012-0155-7. Epub 2012 Jul 14.

Abstract

Cardiac hemangiomas are extremely rare, benign tumors, which can occur anywhere in the heart. Symptoms are variable according to the size, extension and tumor location, but most cases are asymptomatic and are detected incidentally. They may grow, remain stable and regress; therefore, the natural course of the tumors is unpredictable. Diagnosis mainly depends upon echocardiography, CT, MRI and angiography. Reports of detection by F-18 FDG PET/CT are very limited. We report a case of cardiac hemangioma attached to the right ventricle, compressing the ventricle. It was revealed incidentally on F-18 FDG PET/CT for routine evaluation of thyroid cancer. During two serial F-18 FDG PET/CTs, it grew from 2.8 cm to 4.0 cm with mild FDG uptake. After surgery, the patient remained stable without any complications.

Keywords: Cardiac tumor; Cavernous hemangioma; F-18 FDG; PET/CT.