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Background Cardiac masses are commonly classified as neoplastic (primary and secondary) or non-neoplastic (e.g., thrombus or vegetation). Cardiac tumors are rare, and primary tumors are even rarer, with an estimated autopsy prevalence of < 0.1%. Differentiating between these masses is of paramount importance as treatment options greatly differ. Case presentation A 46-year-old male patient, current smoker, with family history of CAD and new onset hyperlipidemia and hypertension, underwent electrocardiogram (ECG) screening for an episode of chest pain. His ECG showed sinus rhythm with Q waves in inferior leads. The laboratory tests did not reveal any abnormality. His transthoracic echocardiogram showed normal biventricular function, and a lobular mass of 30×20 mm, that seemed in continuity with the antero-lateral (A-L) papillary muscle. For the presence of multiple cardiovascular risk factor, the patient underwent diagnostic coronary angiography which showed normal coronary arteries. Differential diagnoses were: hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with isolated hypertrophy of the A-L papillary muscle and LV mass. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) was performed and demonstrated a pedunculated mobile non-enhancing 30×18mm mass within the LV anterior apex, that in the systolic phase contracts close relationships with the A-L papillary muscle which appears dislocated. This encapsulated formation determined a mild systolic obliteration of the LV cavity at the mid-apical portion. T1 imaging with and without suppression of adipose tissue, were compatible with cardiac intraventricular lipoma. The case was discussed in a multi-disciplinary heart team, and in accordance with the cardiac surgeon the patient underwent conservative management and follow up with echocardiography at 6 months and CMR at 1 year. Discussion Cardiac lipomas are rare benign primary cardiac tumors. They are usually indolent, asymptomatic and incidentally-discovered. Symptoms such as dyspnea, syncope or palpitations can occur if the tumor grows and causes LV obstruction, LV dysfunction or invasion of the conduction system. Sudden cardiac death has been reported, but the true incidence is unknown given its rarity. The most common location for cardiac lipomas is the inter-atrial septum, followed by endocardium of RA and LV. CMR is the imaging modality of choice when available and lipomas have a homogeneous appearance of increased signal intensity on T1-weighted imaging, with a reduction in signal intensity in fat-saturated sequences. As the prevalence of cardiac lipomas is very low, there are no randomized clinical trials or large prospective cohorts to provide guidance for optimal treatment. Embolization or infiltration of the myocardium are not common. For large lesions causing obstruction, surgical resection is usually indicated. Conclusion Cardiac lipoma is a rare primary tumor of the heart. The comprehensive evaluation is highly dependent on multimodality imaging methods. The best treatment strategy is still not clear and should be individualized.

Background The impact of complete revascularization (CR) on survival and occurrence of heart failure (HF) after ACS is still unsettled. Goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of CR on HF hospitalization and adverse outcomes in patients with ACS and multivessel coronary artery disease undergoing PCI. Methods Consecutive ACS patients with multivessel disease from the CORALYS registry were included. First hospitalization for HF or cardiovascular (CV) death was the primary endpoint. Patients were stratified according to CR. Results Of 14699 patients in the CORALYS registry, 5054 had multivessel disease. 1473 (29.2%) underwent CR, while 3581 (70.8%) did not. Over 5 years follow-up, CR was associated with a reduced incidence of the primary endpoint (adjusted HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.51-0.85), first HF hospitalization (adj HR 0.67, 95% CI 0.49-0.90), CV death (adj HR 0.56, 95% CI 0.38-0.84) and all-cause death (adj HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.56-0.97). The results were consistent in the matched population and in the IPTW analysis. The benefit of CR was consistent across ACS presentations (HR 0.59, 95% CI 0.39-0.89 for STEMI and HR 0.71, 95% CI 0.50-0.99 for NSTE-ACS) and in patients with LVEF>40% (HR 0.52; 95% CI 0.37-0.72), while no significant benefit was observed in patients with LVEF≤40% (HR 0.77; 95% CI 0.37-1.10, p for interaction 0.04). Conclusions In patients with ACS and multivessel disease, CR reduced the risk of first hospitalization for HF and CV death, as well as first HF hospitalization, CV and overall death. When feasible, CR should be performed in all patients with ACS to reduce the incidence of HF and death. Future studies are needed to assess the evidence of CR in patients with depressed LVEF.

Aims Whether patients with spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) should undergo an initial conservative management or immediate revascularization through percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains debated. To investigate the frequency and predictors of choosing a strategy of immediate PCI for SCAD, and to compare the clinical outcomes of immediate PCI patients with those undergoing an initial strategy of medical management. Methods and results 369 patients enrolled in the multicentre international DIssezioni Spontanee COronariche (DISCO) registry between January 2009 and December 2020 were included. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), a composite of cardiac death, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI) and any PCI. 240 (65%) patients underwent initial medical management, whereas 129 (35%) had immediate PCI. PCI patients presented more frequently with ST segment-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) (68.2% vs. 35%, P Conclusions The choice between an immediate medical or PCI management of SCAD is mostly driven by clinical presentation and procedural aspects. In the DISCO cohort, the primary treatment approach was not associated with the risk of short-to-midterm adverse events.

Background Left atrial appendage (LAA) closure is an alternative to chronic oral anticoagulation for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) at high bleeding risk. Patients with a previous percutaneous closure of a patent foramen ovale (PFO) present an increased risk for developing AF during their life, and the presence of an atrial septal device renders future percutaneous left atrial access more challenging. Very few cases of LAA occlusion in patients with a preexisting PFO closure device have been previously reported. Case summary A 74-years old woman was admitted to our hospital for symptomatic severe anaemia during direct oral anticoagulant treatment. Her past medical history reported an ischaemic stroke at the age of 55, at that time a PFO was diagnosed and a STARFlex™ PFO occluder (NMT Medical, Boston, MA, USA) was implanted. During the current hospitalization, the patient underwent a colonoscopy that showed colonic angiodysplasias unsuitable for endoscopic treatment and LAA closure was indicated for stroke prevention. After a multimodality pre-procedural planning that included a transoesophageal echocardiogram, a cardiac computed tomography scan and a three-dimensional cardiac model printing, the procedure was planned and the LAA successfully occluded. Discussion LAA closure can be performed safely and effectively in patients carrying a previously implanted PFO occlusion device. In complex settings, a pre-procedural multimodality imaging is critical for improving the procedural safety and success rate. We describe the first case of percutaneous LAA closure in a patient with a prior PFO occlusion with the implantation of a STARflex™ septal occlusion device.

Aims The differential impact on ischaemic and bleeding events of the type of drug-eluting stent [durable polymer stents [DES] vs. biodegradable polymer stents vs. bioresorbable scaffolds (BRS)] and length of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) remains to be defined. Methods and results Randomized controlled trials comparing different types of DES and/or DAPT durations were selected. The primary endpoint was Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events (MACE) [a composite of death, myocardial infarction (MI), and target vessel revascularization]. Definite stent thrombosis (ST) and single components of MACE were secondary endpoints. The arms of interest were: BRS with 12 months of DAPT (12mDAPT), biodegradable polymer stent with 12mDAPT, durable polymer stent [everolimus-eluting (EES), zotarolimus-eluting (ZES)] with 12mDAPT, EES/ZES with 12 months of DAPT (DAPT > 12 m). Sixty-four studies with 150 arms and 102 735 patients were included. After a median follow-up of 20 months, MACE rates were similar in the different arms of interest. EES/ZES with DAPT > 12 m reported a lower incidence of MI than the other groups, while BRS showed a higher rate of ST when compared to EES/ZES, irrespective of DAPT length. A higher risk of major bleedings was observed for DAPT > 12 m as compared to shorter DAPT. Conclusion Durable and biodegradable polymer stents along with BRS report a similar rate of MACE irrespective of DAPT length. Fewer MI are observed with EES/ZES with DAPT > 12 m, while a higher rate of ST is reported for BRS when compared to EES/ZES, independently from DAPT length. Stent type may partially affect the outcome together with DAPT length.