title: Malignant primary cardiac tumours.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, UK. nburnside@doctors.net.uk
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Burnside
authors.forename: Simon W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: MacGowan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007069:Ifosfamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009232:Myxoma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D012086:Reoperation; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D043823:Taxoids; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000077143:Docetaxel; D004317:Doxorubicin; D007069:Ifosfamide; D000093542:Gemcitabine