Tumours of the Heart

• Primary heart tumours are rare, secondary metastases are more common and are seen in around 5% of patients dying of cancer
• The most common primary tumors, indecednign order are;
  • Myxomas
  • Fibromas
  • Lipomas
  • Papillary fibroelastomas
  • Rhabdomyomas
  • Angiosarcomas
  • Other sarcomas
• The first five are benign and account for 80-90% of all primary tumours of the heart

 

Myxomas

• Most common cardiac tumour in adults
• 90% arise in the left atria in the region of the fossa ovale
• They are 1-10cm sessile to pedunculated masses
• They may cause symptoms by obstruction, trauma to the atrioventricular valves or by peripheral embolisation

 

Lipomas

• Localised, poorly encapsulated masses may be subendocardial, myocardial or subepicardial
• May encroach on valves or disrupt the conduction system

 

Papillary fibroelastomas

• Can cause emboli but are normally incidental finding at post mortem
• Characteristically found on right sided valves in children and left sided valves in adults

 

Rhabdomyomas

• Most common primary heart tumour in children
• Can cause valvular or outflow obstruction

 

Sarcomas

• Angiosarcomas and rhabdosarcomas resemble their counterparts in other locations