While cancer is widely recognized as a significant health threat, cardiac muscle cancer is extremely rare and far less understood. Many may find it surprising that cancer can develop in the heart, but if left undiagnosed or untreated, it can severely impair heart function.
Primary malignant cardiac tumor is a rare disease. It can occur in the heart muscle or heart valves. Historical data shows that the prevalence of heart cancer ranges from 0.001% to 0.28%, and it is mostly found as connective tissue cancer, also known as sarcoma. The exact causes of this disease remain unclear.
Symptoms resulting from primary malignant cardiac tumors are often due to blood flow obstruction and the spread of cancer to other organs.
Possible symptoms include:
- Shortness of breath and difficulty breathing
- Chest tightness and inability to lie flat
- Irregular heartbeats (such as rapid or slow heart rates)
- Weakness in the limbs (due to ischemic stroke)
Diagnosis of primary malignant cardiac tumors is done through medical history and physical examination. An important diagnostic tool is an echocardiogram, along with advanced imaging technologies such as CT scans, MRI, cardiac angiography, and biopsy of the tumor for pathological examination.
Surgical intervention is a key treatment, with the procedure depending on the location of the heart cancer. Additionally, other treatments include chemotherapy and radiation, will depend on the stage and type of cancer.
As primary malignant cardiac tumors are a rare disease that can severely impact heart function, regular health check-ups and being aware of abnormalities in the body are essential, as they can help reduce the severity of the disease.
For more information, please contact
Life Cancer Center, Vejthani Hospital
Call: (+66)2-734-0000 Ext. 2720, 2721
English Hotline: (+66)85-223-8888
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