A Cardiac Tumor and Liver Masses on Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS): Implications in a Resource-Limited Setting

POCUS J. 2024 Nov 15;9(2):18-21. doi: 10.24908/pocus.v9i2.17665. eCollection 2024.

Abstract

Malignant cardiac tumors are quite rare, but portend a poor prognosis 1, 2. Early identification and classification are essential given their aggressive nature, particularly when metastases are present 3, 4. Clinical presentations are varied, and detection relies primarily on echocardiography. Thus, cardiac tumors may go undiagnosed in areas where echocardiography is not routinely available 1, 5. In this case, point of care ultrasound (POCUS) rapidly detected a cardiac mass and liver lesions, prompting referral to a central hospital in Malawi for further evaluation. This case highlighted the potential role of POCUS as a readily available tool in a resource-limited setting, serving as a triage point for more definitive diagnosis and management 6, 7, 8.

Keywords: Cardiac Tumor; Point-of-Care Ultrasound; Resource-Limited Setting.

Publication types

  • Case Reports