Diagnosis of right atrial mass lesions by transesophageal and transthoracic echocardiography.

The echocardiographic findings by transesophageal and transthoracic techniques were compared in 16 patients with right atrial mass lesions diagnosed by transesophageal echocardiography. In only 8 of the 16 patients were the masses imaged by transthoracic echocardiography. Masses in the main body of the right atrium (three of five), as well as those associated with indwelling catheters and pacer wires (three of four) were more likely to be imaged by transthoracic echocardiography than masses in the right atrial appendage (zero of three) or in the superior or inferior vena cava (one of three).