[Primary Malignant Cardiac Tumors: Surgical results]

To characterize primary malignant cardiac tumors operated on in our center and to analyze patient survival.

Between January 1994 and August 2014, 123 patients with cardiac tumors underwent surgery, of which 12 (9.8%) were primary malignant tumors - eight sarcomas (67%), three B-cell lymphomas (25%) and one epithelioid hemangioendothelioma (8.3%). The tumor affected the left atrium in five cases (42%), the right atrium in four (33%), the right ventricle in two (17%) and the pulmonary valve in one (8%). Patients' mean age was 55.4 ± 16.9 years, 67% were female and 75% presented in New York Heart Association class III-IV.

Resection was complete (negative margins) in five cases and partial in seven (five sarcomas and two lymphomas), and 11 patients needed adjuvant therapy, surgery alone being curative in only one (epithelioid hemangioendothelioma). Mean follow-up was 41.7 ± 61.3 months: 24.8 ± 30.0 months (3.8-95.7) for sarcomas, 70.1 ± 118.0 months (1-206.3) for lymphomas and 91.9 months for the epithelioid hemangioendothelioma. During follow-up, 10 patients died (83%) and two were alive (17%). Overall survival at 30 days, six months, one year and two years was 91.7%, 66.7%, 58.3% and 41.7%, respectively. In the sarcoma group, 1-year and 2-year survival were 62.5% and 37.5%, respectively.

Resection of primary malignant cardiac tumors, even partial, is safe, provides relief of obstructive symptoms and improves quality of life, but is rarely curative and has a low survival rate. Due to the rarity of such tumors, a multicenter database could improve knowledge and help clarify the indications for cardiac surgery as a treatment option.