Heart neoplasia

An overview of heart neoplasia, its types, diagnosis, and treatment

Heart neoplasia refers to the abnormal growth of tissue in the heart, which can be benign or malignant. Neoplasms of the heart are rare compared to other types of tumors, but they can have significant clinical implications due to their location and potential to disrupt cardiac function.

Types of Heart Neoplasia

Heart neoplasms can be classified into two main categories: primary and secondary tumors.

Primary Heart Tumors

Primary heart tumors originate from the heart tissue itself. They are rare, with an incidence of approximately 0.001% to 0.03% in autopsy studies. The most common types of primary heart tumors include:

• Myxoma: The most common primary cardiac tumor in adults, usually benign and often located in the left atrium.
• Rhabdomyoma: The most common primary cardiac tumor in children, often associated with tuberous sclerosis.
• Fibroma: A benign tumor that can occur in the heart, often in children.
• Sarcoma: A rare malignant tumor that can arise in the heart, including angiosarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma.

Secondary Heart Tumors

Secondary heart tumors, also known as metastatic tumors, are more common than primary tumors. They occur when cancer from another part of the body spreads to the heart. Common cancers that metastasize to the heart include:

• Lung cancer
• Breast cancer
• Melanoma
• Lymphoma

Clinical Presentation

The symptoms of heart neoplasia can vary depending on the size, location, and type of the tumor. Common symptoms include:

• Dyspnea: Shortness of breath due to obstruction of blood flow or pericardial effusion.
• Chest pain: May occur if the tumor invades the pericardium or coronary arteries.
• Arrhythmias: Irregular heartbeats caused by the tumor affecting the heart's electrical system.
• Embolism: Tumor fragments can break off and travel to other parts of the body, causing embolic events.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of heart neoplasia typically involves a combination of imaging studies and histological examination. Common diagnostic tools include:

• Echocardiography: A non-invasive ultrasound technique that can visualize the heart and detect tumors.
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): Provides detailed images of the heart and surrounding structures.
• Computed Tomography (CT) Scan: Useful for assessing the extent of the tumor and its relationship to other structures.
• Biopsy: Obtaining a tissue sample for histological examination to determine the type of tumor.

Treatment

The treatment of heart neoplasia depends on the type, size, and location of the tumor, as well as the patient's overall health. Treatment options include:

• Surgical Resection: The primary treatment for benign tumors and some malignant tumors, aiming to remove the tumor completely.
• Radiation Therapy: May be used for certain malignant tumors, especially if surgery is not feasible.
• Chemotherapy: Used for metastatic tumors or certain types of primary malignant tumors.
• Palliative Care: Focuses on relieving symptoms and improving quality of life in cases where curative treatment is not possible.

Prognosis

The prognosis for heart neoplasia varies widely depending on the type of tumor. Benign tumors like myxomas have an excellent prognosis after surgical removal, while malignant tumors such as sarcomas have a poorer prognosis due to their aggressive nature and potential for metastasis.

Also see

• Cardiac tumor
• Myxoma
• Rhabdomyoma
• Sarcoma
• Metastasis

Cardiovascular disease A-Z

Most common cardiac diseases

• Cardiac arrhythmia‎
• Cardiogenetic disorders‎
• Cardiomegaly‎
• Cardiomyopathy‎
• Cardiopulmonary resuscitation‎
• Chronic rheumatic heart diseases‎
• Congenital heart defects‎
• Heart neoplasia‎
• Ischemic heart diseases‎
• Pericardial disorders
• Syndromes affecting the heart‎
• Valvular heart disease‎

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A

• Accelerated idioventricular rhythm
• Acute decompensated heart failure
• Arteriosclerotic heart disease
• Athletic heart syndrome
• Atrial flutter
• Atrioventricular fistula
• Cardiovascular disease in Australia
• Autoimmune heart disease

B

• Brown atrophy of the heart

C

• Ebb Cade
• Cardiac allograft vasculopathy
• Cardiac amyloidosis
• Cardiac asthma
• Cardiac tamponade
• Cardiogenic shock
• Cardiogeriatrics
• Cardiorenal syndrome
• Cardiotoxicity
• Carditis
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• Cœur en sabot
• Coxsackievirus-induced cardiomyopathy

D

• Duke Treadmill Score
• Duroziez's disease

E

• Eisenmenger's syndrome
• Embryocardia
• Endocardial fibroelastosis
• Eosinophilic myocarditis

H

• Heart attack
• Heart failure
• Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
• Heart to Heart (1949 film)
• High-output heart failure
• Hyperdynamic precordium

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

I

• Idiopathic giant-cell myocarditis
• Interventricular dyssynchrony
• Intraventricular dyssynchrony
• Isolated atrial amyloidosis

K

• Keshan disease

L

• Loeffler endocarditis

M

• Mydicar
• Myocardial bridge
• Myocardial disarray
• Myocardial rupture
• Myocardial scarring
• Myocardial stunning
• Myocarditis

N

• Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis

O

• OLR1
• Ostial disease

P

• Papillary fibroelastoma
• Pathophysiology of heart failure
• Postpericardiotomy syndrome
• Pulmonary vein stenosis

R

• Right axis deviation
• Roemheld syndrome

S

• Saturated fat and cardiovascular disease
• SCAR-Fc
• Shone's syndrome
• Strain pattern
• Subacute bacterial endocarditis
• Sudden cardiac death of athletes

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

T

• Traumatic cardiac arrest

V

• Ventricular aneurysm
• Vibroacoustic disease
• Viral cardiomyopathy

W

• Waon therapy