Presumptive evidence of cardiac rheumatoid nodules assessed by twodimensional echocardiography

ABSTRACT

Three patients with nodular rheumatoid arthritis underwent two-dimensional echocardiography for evaluation of cardiac murmurs of undefined etiology. Each patient had long-standing rheumatoid arthritis with palpable and visible extensor surface nodules. Discretely identifiable, nodular-appearing, echodense masses involving various cardiac structures were visualized in each of the patients examined. These echodense masses may represent cardiac rheumatoid nodules—the unique cardiac manifestation of rheumatoid heart disease.