How Common Are External Masses Attached To The Heart?

Posted on Fri, 16 Mar 2018

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 16 Mar 2018 Answered on

Fri, 29 Dec 2023 Last reviewed on

Question : my 19 son just had an echocardiogram and they said they found an external mass. They said it could be a shadow and nothing at all but they have to do an MRI now. How common is it to think they find something on the heart and turns out it was only a shadow? I am very concerned.

Answered by Dr. Ilir Sharka (46 minutes later)

Brief Answer:

I would explain as follows:

Detailed Answer:

Hello,

I understand your concern and would like to explain that external masses attached to the heart are not frequent and it is difficult to confirm them with certainty in case they don't exert any compression to the heart.

It is always necessary to verify any kind of suspicions by means of complementary imagine tests like chest CT or MRI or even trans-esophageal echo (in case some degree of compression to the heart is present).

In addition, several lab tests such as:

- complete blood count,
- PCR & ESR,
- pulmonary respiratory tests,
- liver and renal function tests,
- blood proteins level, etc.

are necessary they may show abnormalities in case a pathological mass really exists.

Until a complementary test like MRI has not been performed I recommend you to just wait and not worry too much in advance, as the cardiac ultrasound is neither sensitive nor specific regarding chest masses.

I would like to review and give a second professional opinion in case of any available tests.

Hope to have clarified some uncertainties.

Hope I have answered your query.

Take care

Regards,
Dr Ilir Sharka, Cardiologist

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar