Comparative pathology of cardiac neoplasms in humans and in laboratory rodents: a review

Abstract

This review deals with the frequency, heredity, and morphology of 19 different histologic types of cardiac tumors that may affect humans, rat, mouse, guinea pig, and mastomys. Chemicals, durable fibrous materials, viruses, and probably irradiation have induced cardiac tumors in rodents. Apart from the involvement of asbestos in the induction of pericardial mesothelioma, no carcinogens have been identified in induction or promotion of cardiac tumors in humans. A hereditary tendency for the occurrence of myxoma and aortic paraganglioma has been indicated in humans as well as strain-specific heredity for rhabdomyoma in the guinea pig and for atriocaval node tumor in the rat.