Usefulness of three-dimensional echocardiography for evaluation of pathological mass in the right atrium

The authors present a case of 51-year-old male patient with symptoms of congestive heart failure. Two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (2D TTE) at the time of admission revealed a spherical, highly mobile structure in the right atrium (4.5 cm in diameter). Despite using multiple views it was impossible to distinguish if this structure had a stalk or was free-floating. The real time three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography (3D TTE) revealed the presence of thin stalk attached to the roof of the right atrium. Guidance of 2D TTE by 3D TTE findings finally allowed the recognition of the stalk in modified subcostal view.