Cardiac Tumors

CARDIAC TUMORS

Primary cardiac tumours are rare. The majority are benign; the malignant tumours are sarcomas. Treatment is excision.

• Cardiac myxoma is a benign tumour usually arising within the left atrium near the fossa ovalis in decades 3-6 of life; it can present like mitral valve disease. In 10% of cases, there is an autosomal dominant condition known as Carney complex (myxomas with endocrine abnormalities and lentigines or pigmented nevi). Cardiac myxoma is characterized microscopically by stellate-shaped cells within a myxoid background. Complications include tumour emboli and “ball-valve” obstruction of the valves.
•  Cardiac rhabdomyoma is a benign tumour usually arising within the myo­cardium that is associated with tuberous sclerosis.