Successful removal of massive cardiac neurilemoma with cardiopulmonary bypass

Primary Schwannoma of the Right Atrium: Successful Surgical Resection

“…3,4 When found as primary neoplasms, schwannomas frequently arise from the nervous system of the heart, which resides in the epicardial fat and contains both myelinated and unmyelinated axons, located primarily on the right side of heart, particularly in the right atrium and close to the cardiac plexus. 5 This was the very same location found in this patient. However, schwannomas can be found in the left atrium near the pulmonary arteries or in the atrioventricular groove.…”

“…Primary neurogenic tumors of the heart originating in the nerve sheath are extremely uncommon, and to date, 10 cases of neurilemomas, or schwannomas, have been reported. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8] We report the case of a patient with a right atrial tumor who underwent a successful resection; histological examination revealed a benign primary schwannoma of the heart.…”

“…Symptoms also depend on the size, the rate of growth, and how promptly they are detected and removed. The most common clinical findings are chest pain, dyspnea, orthopnea, distal edema, syncope, arrhythmias, and conductive disorders, and these symptoms are frequently associated to pericardial effusion 1,5 and acute atrial fibrillation. 6 Nevertheless, cardiac schwannomas can have a benign and asymptomatic presentation, such as in the patient reported here, as well as in other previously reported cases, 8 where early identification and consequently smaller tumor size or location favored a lack of symptoms.…”

“…6 Nevertheless, cardiac schwannomas can have a benign and asymptomatic presentation, such as in the patient reported here, as well as in other previously reported cases, 8 where early identification and consequently smaller tumor size or location favored a lack of symptoms. Right ventricular outflow obstruction, 5 thromboembolism, cardiac failure, and sudden death may also be late developments. 6 Cardiac schwannomas can be revealed by echocardiography, but computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging can better define the location, extent, and involvement of other structures, while coronary arteriography must be performed in patients at risk for coronary disease.…”

Primary malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour of the heart

“…Currently, all research on cardiac sarcomas report an improved rate of survival after the tumor is radically removed. In addition, it is usually required to for the reconstruction of cardiac chambers [10][11][12][13][14][15]. Therefore, this is best achieved when tumors are encapsulated and well demarcated [16][17][18][19].…”