Metastasis to the Heart: A Radiologic Approach to Diagnosis With Pathologic Correlation

AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2016 Oct;207(4):764-772. doi: 10.2214/AJR.16.16148. Epub 2016 Aug 4.

Abstract

Objective: Evaluating metastatic disease to the heart and pericardium, from detection to diagnosis, often requires a multimodality imaging approach. A radiologist's ability to evaluate cardiac metastases hinges on an understanding of the epidemiology, anatomy, and imaging features of this disease process.

Conclusion: On surveillance imaging of patients with cancer or when metastatic disease is suspected, detection of metastatic disease may be greatly enhanced by an understanding of which primary tumors metastasize to the heart and the most common routes of spread.

Keywords: cardiac MRI; cardiac metastasis; radiologic-pathologic correlation.