Cardiac metastases from soft-tissue sarcomas.

Abstract

Cardiac metastases were present in 30 of 120 (25%) consecutive autopsies of patients with soft-tissue sarcoma (STS). Fifty percent of the patients had metastases to the myocardium, while 33% had pericardial metastases and 17% had both. Congestive heart failure was present in ten patients and was commonly caused by diffuse myocardial or restrictive pericardial metastases. Other signs and symptoms of cardiac involvement by STS included chest pain (three patients), arrhythmias (two), conduction block (two), simulation of an atrial myxoma (one), and sudden death (one). Echocardiography was used infrequently, but was diagnostic in 80% of cases in which it was used. We conclude that metastatic STS commonly involves the heart and produces cardiac symptoms.