Diagnosis of primary cardiac tumors: report of 30 cases

ABSTRACT

Between 1981 and 1993,30 cases of primary cardiac tumors were diagnosed at the Imam Khomeini Hospital. 20 patients were female and 10 were male, with an average age of 32 years [ranging from 17 days to 65 years of age]. The mean duration of symptoms before diagnosis was 6 months, with dyspnea and palpitation being the most common symptoms [60%] and cardiac murmurs the most usual signs [84%]. The diagnosis of cardiac tumors was made by echocardiography in all patients. Transesophageal echocardiography and cardiac catheterization were performed in 8 and 9 patients respectively for more precise localization of the tumor and evaluation of the coronary arteries. The left atrium was the only site of tumor in 60%. 4 patients had tumors in more than one chamber. 27 patients underwent surgery without mortality while 3 patients did not undergo surgery. Pathological examination revealed benign myxoma in 23 patients, fibroma [1 patient], round cell sarcoma [I patient], chondrosarcoma [1 patient], liposarcoma [1 patient], and undifferentiated sarcoma [1 patient]