[Primary cardiac tumors. Experience in 72 cases]

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Surgery
• Cardiac Oncology
• Diagnostic Imaging

Background:

• Primary cardiac tumors (PCT) are infrequently encountered, and their clinical presentation and progression are not widely understood.
• Understanding the characteristics and outcomes of PCT is crucial for effective patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To delineate the key features, treatment modalities, follow-up strategies, and survival rates of patients diagnosed with primary cardiac tumors (PCT).

Main Methods:

• A retrospective review of 72 surgical procedures for PCT performed between 1984 and 2019 at a regional hospital.
• Data were compiled from surgical records, pathology databases, medical charts, and national registries.
• Analysis included patient demographics, tumor histology, location, presenting symptoms, surgical interventions, and postoperative outcomes.

Main Results:

• Myxoma (68%), papillary fibroelastoma (18%), and sarcoma (8.3%) were the predominant histological types among the 72 reviewed PCTs.
• Echocardiography was the primary diagnostic tool, identifying tumors in the left atrium (71%), aortic valve (14%), and right atrium (11%).
• Surgical resection, with or without patch repair, resulted in no immediate postoperative mortality, with a favorable long-term survival for benign tumors compared to malignant ones.

Conclusions:

• Benign neoplasms, particularly myxomas, constitute the majority of primary cardiac tumors.
• Echocardiography is the principal diagnostic method for identifying PCT.
• Surgical intervention yields excellent outcomes for benign primary cardiac tumors.