Cavernous Hemangioma of the Right Ventricle: Echocardiographic-Pathologic Correlates

Cardiac hemangiomas are exceedingly rare primary cardiac tumors. We describe a case of cavernous hemangioma that was diagnosed by two-dimensional echocardiography in a 17-year-old male. The mass was barely noticeable on two-dimensional echocardiography because of its thin walls and echo lucency. Color flow Doppler imaging was very helpful in delineating the flow around the tumor and further enhanced its spatial configuration. Although the mass could not be well visualized with monoplane transesophageal echocardiography, the transesophageal approach excluded other associated pathologic lesions. At surgery, the cavernous hemangioma was attached to the papillary muscle of the tricuspid valve.