Cardiac Tumors

Question 1

What is the most common primary tumor of the heart?

Answer 1

Cardiac myxoma

Question 2

Where do most cardiac myxomas arise? Complications?

Answer 2

The left atrium; Can embolize to the brain

Question 3

What is the most common primary childhood cardiac tumor?

Answer 3

Rhabdomyoma

Question 4

An older patient died and his heart is shown at autopsy. A large polypoid tumor is shown. What is the Dx?

Answer 4

Cardiac myxoma

Question 5

What syndromes/genes predispose a child to cardiac rhabdomyomas?

Answer 5

• Tuberous sclerosis
• TSC1 - Hamartin
• TSC2 - Tuberin

Question 6

What findings on histological analysis are found in patients with cardiac rhabdomyoma?

Answer 6

Glycogen-rich clear cytoplasm in which fibrillar processes containing sarcomeres radiate to the margin of the cell (spider cell)

Question 7

What part of the heart do papillary fibroelastomas involve?

Answer 7

They may grow on the heart valves

Question 8

A patient with cancer expires and the cardiac histology is shown below. What likely metastasized to the heart?

Answer 8

Malignant melanoma is most likely to metastasize to the heart