Malignant primary cardiac tumours.

Objectives: Management of malignant tumours of the heart remains a poorly investigated clinical area due to the scarcity of presentations. The purpose of this series and review is to present an outline of the management emphasized by our personal experience in a regional cardiothoracic centre.

Methods: We reviewed all cases presenting with primary cardiac tumours in our institution within the last 10 years, looking at presentation, management and outcomes.

Results: Of these, the records of 3 patients, who attended the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast and were treated for a cardiac sarcoma, were fully evaluated. A review of current literature was conducted through a search of Pubmed and Medline databases. A review of the presentation of these patients and the generally accepted management deterioration of patients diagnosed with cardiac sarcoma is discussed.

Conclusions: With reference to our case series, we want to draw attention to the rapid deteriation of these patients following presentation.