CARDIAC TUMORS - CLINICAL SPECTRUM AND PROGNOSIS OF LESIONS OTHER THAN CLASSICAL BENIGN MYXOMA IN 20 PATIENTS

  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 88  (3) , 439-446
Abstract
Patients (20) underwent operation for primary tumors other than classical benign myxoma. Total follow-up was 70.7 patient yr (mean 3.5 yr). There were 10 adults and 10 children under 12 yr of age. There were 2 operative deaths and 4 late deaths. All of the pediatric patients had benign lesions (5 fibromas, 5 rhabdomyomas), and only 1 patient in this group died (during the operation). All operative survivors are alive between 0.9 and 18 yr postoperatively, although in 3 cases excision was incomplete. Of the 10 adult patients, 5 had benign lesions; all were completely excised. In the other 5 adult patients, unresectable malignant tumors were found, and all 4 operative survivors died of metastatic disease within 8 mo. Benign cardiac tumors in childhood have an excellent prognosis when completely excised and appear to have a good short-term prognosis even when excision is incomplete. Although prognosis for benign tumors in adults is good, malignant tumors are associated with very poor survival.

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