Hemangioma of the left ventricular cavity: presumptive diagnosis by magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract

In a 16-year-old boy, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a 1 x 1.5-cm tumor on a stalk attached to the anterior ventricular wall. The tumor showed homogeneous enhancement after the administration of gadolinium(Gd)-DTPA, indicating it was highly vascular. The tumor was excised during surgery and the histological examination led to a diagnosis of juvenile hemangioendothelioma. MRI therefore allowed a definitive diagnosis of cardiac hemangioma to be made preoperatively. This case represents the first reported instance of a benign left ventricular hemangioma diagnosed by MRI.