Context: Intracardiac masses (ICMs) are detected during the exploration of
cardiovascular pathologies or discovered incidentally. They include intracardiac
thrombi, cardiac tumors and valvular vegetations. Method: This was a
descriptive study retrospectively collected within the cardiology department
from January 1, 2011 to March 31, 2013. All the patients diagnosed and hospitalized
for intracardiac masses and followed-up for at least three months
were included in the study. Outcomes: Among the 1066 patients admitted in
the period of study, 80 patients had intracardiac masses, corresponding to a
hospital frequency of 7.5%. The average age was 48.4 ± 17.4 years. ICM was
detected during a thromboembolic complication in 18 cases (22.5%) and during
a cardiological check-up for heart disease in 62 cases (77.5%). Thromboembolic
complications were dominated by strokes in 55.6% of cases. Cardiology
check-up was done because of exertional dyspnea (62 patients) in 77.5%
of cases. Among these intracardiac masses (ICMs), intracardiac thrombosis
(ICT) was observed in 41 cases (50.6%), followed by intracardiac vegetations
in 32 cases (39.5%). The curative treatment of intracardiac masses consisted
of anticoagulants in 65% of cases, antibiotics in 58.8% of cases and instrumental
treatments in 1.3% of cases. We didn’t use cardiac surgery as a therapeutic
means in our study. Twenty patients (25%) died during hospitalization, six of
whom (30%) died as a result of thromboembolic complications. Conclusion:
Intracardiac masses visualized on ultrasound are most often due to thrombi,
vegetations or myxomas. In our study, intracardiac thrombosis was the most
common masses, accounting for 50.6% of cases.

Intracardiac Masses, Clinical, Therapeutic, Evolution, Cardiology