Rare cardiac inflammatory pseudotumor in a toddler: Complementary roles of cardiac magnetic resonance and positron emission tomography

Abstract

We present a rare pediatric case of cardiac inflammatory pseudotumor (IPT) with a unique presentation of fever of unknown origin with markedly elevated inflammatory markers. A right atrial mass was discovered incidentally by echocardiography. The cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) signal characteristics and mass location were not consistent with any of the common benign cardiac tumors of childhood. The presence of high signal intensity on T2 imaging and late gadolinium enhancement, in conjunction with intense metabolic activity at the mass site on positron emission tomography (PET), raised the possibility of an inflammatory or malignant mass. The diagnosis of IPT was confirmed by biopsy. Our case highlights the utility of PET imaging to confirm the inflammatory nature and extent of an IPT.

Keywords: Cardiac MRI; Cardiac inflammatory pseudotumor; Cardiac mass; Pediatric cardiology; Tissue characterization.