title: 23-year experience on diagnosis and surgical treatment of benign and malignant cardiac tumors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although myxoma is the most frequent cardiac tumor, other conditions should be taken into consideration in the differential diagnosis. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), followed by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) remain the principal methods for cardiac tumor screening and visualizing. The aim of the study was to compare the diagnostics, surgical treatment and prognosis of malignant and benign cardiac tumors.
  
  
  METHODS
  From 1986 to 2009 there were 121 patients with cardiac tumors operated on in the Cardiac Surgery Clinic of the Medical University in Lodz. Patients were referred to surgery mainly on the basis of the TTE and TEE image. In 4 cases valvular prosthesis implantation or valve repair were carried out. Patients remained under long-term observation in the Cardiac Surgery Outpatient Clinic.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Myxoma was diagnosed in 114 cases. Malignancies were discovered in 7 cases. The left atrium was the most frequent localization. The echocardiographic image differed significantly in benign and malignant tumors. The postoperative period was complicated by embolic events or myocardial infarctions. Only malignant tumors were associated with mortality due to cardiovascular events. The survival for malignant tumors was significantly shorter.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Short and long-term results of operative treatment are very good for benign tumors in contrast to cardiac malignancies. The TTE and TEE image can be very significant in the final diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Military Teaching Hospital, Veterans Central Hospital, Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kośmider
authors.forename: Ryszard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jaszewski
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marcinkiewicz
authors.forename: Karol
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bartczak
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Knopik
authors.forename: Stanisław
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ostrowski
keywords: myxoma; sarcoma; transesophageal echocardiography; transthoracic echocardiography