Guess the Mass!

CASEOUS MITRAL ANNULAR calcification (CMAC) is an uncommon variant of mitral annular calcification. This case demonstrates the need for a high level of clinical suspicion in order to correctly diagnose CMAC, as it could be easily mistaken for an atrial tumor, an abscess, or a vegetation. Making the correct diagnosis of CMAC can facilitate the implementation of appropriate treatment strategies, which could potentially reduce cerebral vascular accidents. Additionally, the use of multimodal imaging in characterizing such intracardiac masses is essential. Caseous Calcification: Feta Get it Right!Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular AnesthesiaVol. 33Issue 12Preview“CASEATION,” “CASEOUS TUMOR,” “pseudotumor,” “sterile abscess,” and “caseoma” are just a few historical synonyms for what we now refer to as caseous calcification of the mitral annulus (CCMA). This uncommon pathology has puzzled many a novice echocardiographer and poses clinical quandaries even for the seasoned provider. In their e-challenge, “Guess the Mass!” Baron and Bhatt present just such a situation, where even with excellent preoperative workup and imaging, CCMA was only positively diagnosed intraoperatively. Full-Text PDF