Cardiac tumors in adults: surgical management and follow-up of 19 patients in an Australian tertiary hospital☆

Abstract

The objective of this report is to share our experience with the different types of cardiac tumors, surgical management, postoperative complications and mid-term outcome of patients in an Australian tertiary hospital. Nineteen patients underwent cardiac surgery for tumors between 2001 and 2008. Their data was prospectively collected and retrospectively analyzed. The mean follow-up was 17 months. The follow-up was 100% through telephone interviews. There were multiple presenting symptoms with shortness of breath (7/19) as the most common. The tumors were atrial myxoma (14/19), fibroelastoma (2/19), angiosarcoma (1/19) and intravascular leiomyomatosis (1/19). A calcified thrombus (1/19) was misdiagnosed as a tumor. The fibroelastomas were shaved preserving valvular function. The angiosarcoma was incompletely resected with palliation intent. The leiomyomatosis and atrial myxoma were completely resected with satisfactory outcome. There was no in-hospital mortality. All patients were alive and were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class I, except for the patient with a high-grade angiosarcoma who died eight months postoperatively. There was no evidence of recurrence in follow-up echocardiograms. Our experience and outcome is consistent with current literature. Atrial myxoma is the most common cardiac tumor and is curable with complete surgical resection. Fibroelastomas can be shaved off with low-risk of recurrence. Surgical management of angiosarcoma is palliative.

Outcomes of video-assisted minimally invasive approach through right mini-thoracotomy for resection of benign cardiac masses; compared with median sternotomy

“…Cardiac mass resection has traditionally been performed through a median sternotomy Although primary tumors of the heart are uncommon, the clinical outcomes of benign cardiac tumors, especially cardiac myxoma, carry an excellent prognosis, and recurrence is infrequent [1][2][3]. Reports of minimally invasive valve surgery have been published since the 1990s [4,5], and the minimally invasive approach for cardiac surgery has become gradually more accepted during recent years.…”

“…Although primary tumors of the heart are uncommon, with recent developments in surgical technique and diagnostic technology such as echocardiography, tumor resection carries a favorable prognosis [1,2]. The most common cardiac tumor is atrial myxoma, which is reported to account for approximately 40-90 % of all primary cardiac tumors [1][2][3].…”

“…The most common cardiac tumor is atrial myxoma, which is reported to account for approximately 40-90 % of all primary cardiac tumors [1][2][3]. Minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS) for mitral or aortic valve procedures has been reported since the 1990s [4,5], and the reported benefits of less invasive techniques include reduced blood loss and pain, shorter intensive care unit and hospital stays, and higher patient satisfaction [4][5][6][7][8][9].…”

Primary Malignancies of the Heart and Pericardium

“…Approximately one‐quarter to one‐third of all primary heart and pericardium tumors are malignant. But available data from single‐center studies vary, and the reported prevalence is between 3% and 28.7%, as shown in Table . With the exception of mesothelioma, or primary malignancy of the pericardium, primary malignancy of the heart consists of different sarcomas and lymphomas …”

Cardiac sarcoma - a fatal disease: report of 2 cases

“…Complete or partial excision of primary or metastatic cardiac sarcoma can provide hemodynamic improvement and relief from congestive heart failure. Postsurgical adjuvant radiation and chemotherapy have not proven consistently beneficial [13,14]. However, they can be beneficial in improving the symptoms and quality of life.…”