ABSTRACT
We report our experience with 117 patients with primary cardiac tumors who underwent surgery at our institute [a referral center] between March 1995 and February 2006.The patients comprised 47 men and 70 women with a mean age of 44.97 years [range: 2.5- 81 years]. The predominant symptom was dyspnea on exertion and palpitation. In all the patients, echocardiography was the main diagnostic tool, but magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] and CT scan and coronary angiography were also performed if indicated. Most of the tumors were found in the left atrium [LA] [77.77%], but the other chambers were also involved with lesser prevalence [right atrium: 7.5%, left ventricle: 5.1%, and right ventricle: 2.5%]. Involvement of multiple chambers was found in 8 [6.8%] patients.All the patients survived the surgical procedure and were discharged from hospital. Follow-up ranged from 1-10 years [mean: 2.4 years]. The most prevalent tumor was myxoma [104 cases], followed by sarcoma [4 cases] and fibroma [2 cases]. Four patients had secondary [metastatic] cardiac tumors [two Hodgkin lymphoma, one renal cell carcinoma, and one osteosarcoma] and were consequently excluded from the study