Cardiac MRI > Pathology > Cardiac Masses > Review Question Answers

Review Question Answers

    1)  Which of the following is not a characteristic of atrial myxoma?

    1. Usually located in left atrium
    2. Take up gadolinium contrast media
    3. Lower signal than blood pool on gradient echo
    4. Always same signal as myocardium on spin echo
    5. Attached to myocardium

    Answer: D. Always same signal as myocardium on spin echo. The signal of a myxoma is variable; hemorrhage can make it hyperintense while calcification makes it hypointense. The other items are all characteristics of atrial myxomas.

    2)  Which of the following about cardiac thrombi is incorrect?

    1. Acute thrombi have a higher signal than chronic thrombi on gradient echo imaging
    2. Chronic thrombi are darker than myocardium on gradient echo imaging
    3. Thrombi are brighter than the surrounding blood pool with gradient echo imaging
    4. Cardiac thrombi do not take up gadolinium contrast media
    5. Cardiac thrombi are associated with areas of myocardial akinesis

    Answer: C. Thrombi are brighter than the surrounding blood pool with gradient echo imaging. Thrombi are actually darker than the surrounding blood pool. All of the other choices are correct.