Tumours of the heart

Tumours of the heart are most often secondaries from cancer of breast, lungs, or other organs. Primary tumours of the heart are rare and most often benign, meaning non-cancerous. Half of the primary tumours are of a type called myxomas. Cancerous or malignant primary tumours of the heart come to about a quarter of the primary tumours of the heart. Commonest primary tumour of the heart is a sarcoma. Persons with tumours of the heart can have symptoms of heart disease or general symptoms. Occasionally it is an incidental detection during ultrasound study of the heart known as echocardiography, done for some other reason.