Cardiac Tumors

Vocabulary flashcards covering benign, malignant, and secondary cardiac tumors, their manifestations, locations, diagnostic imaging, and treatments based on the lecture notes.

Myxoma

The most common benign tumor of the heart; typically arises in the left atrium and is attached to the atrial septum near the fossa ovalis by a stalk; can cause constitutional symptoms, embolization, and intracardiac obstruction.

Carney complex

A familial syndrome with multiple recurrent cardiac myxomas, spotty skin pigmentation, and endocrine over-reactivity.

Triad of myxoma manifestations

Constitutional symptoms, embolization, and intracardiac obstruction.

Left atrium

Most common location for myxomas (about 75%).

Lipoma

Second most common benign cardiac tumor; encapsulated fatty mass; can be asymptomatic and may cause compression, arrhythmias, or conduction abnormalities.

Lipomatous hypertrophy of the atrial septum

Benign mass from fatty infiltration of the atrial septum; incidence ~8% on echocardiography; associated with increasing age and obesity.

Papillary fibroelastoma

Most frequent tumor of heart valves; ~8% of primary benign cardiac tumors; embolic potential; located on aortic and mitral valves; on the downstream side of the valve and may cause emboli with minimal valvular dysfunction.

Rhabdomyoma

Most common primary cardiac tumor in infants/children; strongly associated with tuberous sclerosis (≈80%); often multicentric and may regress after infancy; usually intramural in LV/RV; can cause arrhythmias or obstruction; surgery if symptomatic.

Fibroma

Second most common primary cardiac tumor in children; in adults ~3%; typically a solitary, well-circumscribed mass in the LV free wall or IVS with possible calcifications; can cause obstruction or arrhythmias; surgical resection recommended.

Hemangioma

Benign vascular tumor; about 2% of primary cardiac tumors; can occur in any chamber, often ventricles; may be solitary or multiple; may require radical resection if symptomatic; follow-up due to growth/recurrence.

Pericardial cyst

Most common pericardial tumor; small, rounded, echolucent; usually near the right atrium; typically asymptomatic but can compress cardiac structures.

Sarcoma

Malignant primary cardiac tumor; accounts for about 95% of malignant cardiac tumors; very aggressive with rapid invasion; occurs in a broad age range; prognosis generally poor.

Rhabdomyosarcoma

Most frequent malignant cardiac tumor in infants/children; may involve any chamber; often multiple and rapidly growing; commonly invades pericardium; poor prognosis; treated with surgery and systemic therapy.

Lymphoma

Primary cardiac lymphoma is rare (about 5% of primary cardiac malignancies); often non-Hodgkin’s; right-sided involvement with pericardial effusion; poor prognosis; treated with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy.

Primary cardiac mesothelioma

Primary malignant pericardial mesothelioma; extremely rare; not clearly linked to asbestos; presents with pericardial effusion/thickening; poor prognosis; limited benefit from chemo/radiation.

Secondary cardiac tumors (cardiac metastases)

Metastatic involvement of the heart via hematogenous, lymphatic, direct, or venous spread; common primaries include lung, breast, ovarian, kidney, leukemia/lymphoma, and esophageal cancers; pericardial effusion is common; treatment may include chemotherapy or tumor resection.

Echocardiography (Echo)

Ultrasound-based imaging used as a primary, noninvasive modality to evaluate cardiac masses, chamber involvement, and pericardial effusion.

CT (Computed Tomography)

Imaging modality used to evaluate cardiac tumors; helps assess anatomy, calcifications, and fat content; complementary to MRI.

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)

Imaging modality offering high soft-tissue contrast; useful for tissue characterization (e.g., fat in lipomas) and delineating tumor extent.

Resection

Surgical removal of a cardiac tumor; a primary treatment for many benign tumors and selected malignant tumors; followed by follow-up and work-up.

Chemotherapy

Drug therapy used to treat cancer; employed for lymphomas, rhabdomyosarcoma, and metastatic disease affecting the heart.

Pericardial effusion

Fluid accumulation in the pericardial space; common in metastases and pericardial tumors; may lead to tamponade and requires monitoring or intervention.