Compared with benign cardiac tumors, malignant cardiac tumors lead to more acute and rapid deterioration and may metastasize to the spine, neighboring soft tissues, and major organs. Malignant tumors, including carcinomas, sarcomas, leukemias, and reticuloendothelial tumors, may metastasize to any heart tissue. Lung and breast carcinomas invade the heart most frequently. Malignant melanomas have one of the highest incidences of metastasis to the heart. A secondary cardiac tumor is suggested by sudden cardiac enlargement, bizarre changes in contour on chest x-ray, tamponade, arrhythmias, or unexplained heart failure.
Therapy is palliative, as with primary malignancies.
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