Primary cardiac neoplasms are extremely rare and are far outnumbered by metastases. These are difficult to diagnose and differentiate clinically due to lack of specific clinical manifestations. Technological advances have revolutionised cardiac imaging, with the cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMRI) showing promising results in the non-invasive evaluation of cardiac masses. Further, CMRI may envisage the malignant potential of a lesion based on its location, morphology, and signal characteristics, in addition to determining its impact on cardiac function. With the ever-increasing application of CMRI in the evaluation of neoplasms, comprehensive knowledge of their imaging characteristics becomes crucial. © 2019 The Royal College of Radiologists