Cardiac neoplasms: current diagnosis, pathology, and therapy.

Cardiac neoplasms remain enigmatic because of their rarity and protean clinical manifestations. Although surgery for benign cardiac neoplasms seems straightforward, certain difficulties in diagnosis and extirpation often exist. Newer diagnostic modalities including intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography seem promising and may provide better planning for the surgeon. Moreover, cardiac transplantation has provided relief for some patients with irresectable benign neoplasms. As ventricular arrhythmias may emanate from benign tumors, electrophysiologically guided extirpation may provide helpful control. Malignant cardiac tumors remain the true challenge, whether primary or metastatic, as little surgical or medical progress has resulted. This review examines nearly all diagnostic, pathological, histologic, and therapeutic aspects of benign and malignant cardiac tumors. Moreover, the various surgical approaches necessary for removal of resectable neoplasms are detailed.