[Primary cardiac tumors. Experience in 72 cases]

Primary cardiac tumors have a low incidence, and their presentation form and clinical course are not well known.

To describe the characteristics, treatment, follow up and survival of patients with primary cardiac tumors (PCT).

Review of all surgical procedures for PCT performed between 1984 and 2019 in a regional general hospital. The information was obtained from surgical protocols, surgical and pathology databases, medical records and registries of the Chilean National Identification Service. The clinical features of patients, immediate and long term outcomes are described.

Seventy-two surgical procedures for PCT were reviewed. Patients' age was 55 ± 15 years and 60% were women. The most common histological types were myxoma in 49 patients (68%), papillary fibroelastoma in 13 (18%) and sarcoma in 6 (8.3%). Forty-nine (68.1%) were symptomatic and all tumors were found on echocardiography. Fifty-one (71%) were in the left atrium, 10 (14%) in the aortic valve and eight (11%) in the right atrium. The surgical procedures were tumor resection in 48 patients (67%) and resection and repair with patch in 23 (32%). Mean postoperative stay was 6.6 ± 4.4 days, eight patients (11%) had complications and no patient died in the immediate postoperative period. Long term survival was higher in patients with benign PCT as compared with those with malignant tumors.

Most PCTs in this group of patients were benign neoplasms and the most common tumors were myxomas. The main diagnostic method is echocardiography and the prognosis of surgical treatment is excellent when the tumors are benign. (Rev Med Chile 2020; 148: 327-335).