Cardiac Tumors

Abstract

Cardiac tumors represent a rare and challenging clinical situation. They can be primary (benign or malignant) or secondary (metastatic). Secondary tumors are more frequent than the primary tumors. Most of the primary cardiac tumors are benign and originate from the endocardium or myocardium, while the metastatic tumors develop from lung, breast, kidney carcinoma, melanoma and lymphoma. The diagnosis of cardiac tumors is often difficult because of their rarity, variety and nonspecific symptoms. The clinical manifestations depend on tumor’s size, location, infiltration and consist of four categories: systemic manifestations, cardiac manifestations, embolic events, and metastatic manifestations. Echocardiography represents the main imaging technique used to detect cardiac masses. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are used to achieve more information about tumor’s composition, extension, vascularization, and possibility of surgical treatment. The histological evaluation is necessary for a positive diagnosis and staging of the cardiac tumor. The treatment of cardiac tumors depends on the type of tumor and symptomatology.