Tumors of the Heart and Great Vessels

Abstract

Overview Primary tumors of the heart and great vessels are rare, but secondary tumors are significantly more common. Clinical manifestations of cardiac tumors depend on the location and size of the mass, not on the histopathology of the tumor. Several noninvasive imaging modalities including echocardiography, cardiac MRI, cardiac CT, and PET are currently available to provide complementary information on the location, extent, and tissue characteristics of a cardiac tumor. The clinical management of patients with cardiac tumors varies based on the type of tumor, clinical symptoms, and overall prognosis.