Survival Differences in Men and Women With Primary Malignant Cardiac Tumor: An Analysis Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Database From 1973 to 2015

Abstract

Background No data are available on sex disparities in prevalence and survival for primary malignant cardiac tumors (PMCT). This study aimed to compare male and female PMCT prevalence and long-term survival rates. Methods and Results We utilized the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) 18 database from the National Cancer Institute for all PMCTs diagnosed between 1973 and 2015. From a total of 7 384 580 cases of cancer registered in SEER, we identified 327 men and 367 women with PMCTs. The majority (78%) of patients were white. Sarcoma was the most common type of PMCT in both men and women (≈60%). Individuals diagnosed with lymphoma exhibited better survival than those with other types of PMCTs. Men were diagnosed at a younger age than women; however, there was no significant difference in overall survival between the sexes. Men diagnosed with PMCT between the ages of 51 and 65 years demonstrated prolonged survival compared with those diagnosed at younger or older ages. There was no difference in survival rates among women based on age at diagnosis. Conclusions PMCTs are rare in both men and women. Tumors tend to be diagnosed at an earlier age in men compared with women, but there is no sex disparity in survival rate. Sarcoma is the most common type of PMCT, and lymphoma is associated with the highest survival rate among both sexes.

Keywords: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results; cardiac tumors; malignancy; sex; survival rate.

Figure 1

Flow chart for the patient selection with exclusion criteria SEER: Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results.

Figure 2

Age at diagnosis for primary malignant cardiac tumors, stratified by sex. There was statistically significant difference in the incidence of PMCTs between the ages of 18 and 50. After 50 years, males had lower incidence compared with females which was not statistically significant. SEER indicates The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results; PMCT, primary malignant cardiac tumors.

Figure 3

Kaplan‐‐Meier survival estimates for overall survival: stratified by sex. There is no difference in overall survival between both sexes.

Figure 4

Kaplan–Meier survival estimates by type of tumor. For males (A) and females (B), lymphoma has highest survival rate among all the primary malignant cardiac tumors. C, overall survival for entire cohort by age group; (C) demonstrates that patients between 51‐65 years have the highest survival rate compared with other age groups.