The changing prevalence of secondary cardiac neoplasms as related to cancer therapy.

A 25-year-review of 1303 autopsies with metastatic non-reticuloendothelial and non-central nervous system malignancies revealed secondary cardiac neoplasms in 179 cases (14%). When the autopsies were divided into two groups by time period, a significant increased prevalence of secondary cardiac neoplasms was demonstrated during the later period (1966-1977). This noted increase was not influenced by chemotherapy but was apparently related to attempted curative surgical and/or radiation therapy.