Cardiac masses include tumours, thrombi, vegetations, calcific lesions, and other very rare conditions. Cardiac tumours include benign tumours and tumour-like lesions, malignant tumours, and pericardial tumours. The estimated prevalence for primary cardiac tumours is 1:2.000 and for secondary tumours 1:100 autopsies. The incidence of cardiac metastases ranges from 2.3% to 18.3% of patients with extra-cardiac malignancies. About 10% of primary cardiac tumours are malignant and 90% benign. The majority of primary benign cardiac tumours are myxomas, followed by papillary fibroelastomas. Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcomas are the most common primary malignant cardiac tumours, followed by angiosarcoma and leiomyosarcoma.
Cardiac Metastases: Secondary Tumours of the Heart