Diagnosis of primary cardiac sarcoma. Report of 4 cases and review of the literature

Abstract

The authors report the most extensive series of malignant primitive cardiac tumours. The patients presented with pericarditis in three cases and with a ventricular rhythm disorder in one patient. The diagnosis was made by non-invasive imaging techniques in three of the four. Angiography was carried out in three cases and was the determining diagnostic procedure in one. Diagnosis of the cardiac tumour was made prior to death in all cases. A histological diagnosis was obtained surgically in two cases. From the therapeutic viewpoint, surgical excision followed by chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy may prolong life. The average survival period of our patients was 11 months. The prognosis appears to be better after early surgical intervention. In view of the variability of the clinical features of cardiac sarcomas, cardiac computed tomography scanning is a valuable complement to cross-sectional echocardiography and, in our opinion, essential for early diagnosis.