Cardiac Tumour

Cardiac tumours are relatively rare and so the symptoms vary from one individual to another. Some patients may not experience any symptoms while others with existing heart conditions may have cardiac tumour symptoms that are life-threatening. Cardiac tumour symptoms include the following - 

• Chest pain or discomfort
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Heart palpitations
• Dizziness or losing consciousness
• Fever and chills
• Joint pain
• Loss of appetite
• Sweating at night
• Petechiae (pinpoint-sized spots of bleeding under the skin)
• Swelling in the legs
• Unexplained weight loss 

There are many types of cardiac tumours depending on how they develop. Primary tumours develop in the heart and can be cancerous or non-cancerous. Secondary tumours spread from the surrounding organs to the heart. They are also known as metastatic heart tumours which are always cancerous as they result from cancer already present inside the body. 

Non-cancerous primary cardiac tumours include the following - 

• Myxoma
• Papillary Fibroelastoma
• Lipoma
• Hemangioma
• Cardiac rhabdomyoma
• Teratoma
• Fibroma
• Hamartoma

Cancerous heart tumours types include the following - 

• Angiosarcoma
• Rhabdomyosarcoma
• Lymphoma
• Malignant fibrous histiocytoma
• Mesothelioma
• Paraganglioma

It is not clear what causes cardiac tumours but there are several risk factors which can progress the condition. Genetic syndromes such as carney complex along with other cardiovascular diseases can increase the risk of cardiac tumours. The tumour can also spread to the heart via surrounding organs which leads to abnormal cell growth in the heart. Discuss your symptoms with the doctor in case you are experiencing cardiac tumour symptoms for an early diagnosis and timely treatment. 

Get in touch with the doctor if you have been diagnosed with a cardiac tumour. Cardiac tumour requires close monitoring by the healthcare professional which require regular health checkups. They may also recommend genetic testing for you and for your family members. You must also consult the doctor in case your cardiac tumour symptoms do not improve with time and are constantly getting worse. If your child is diagnosed with a cardiac tumour get them treated immediately.

It is often difficult to diagnose cardiac tumours due to their rarity. Cardiac tumour diagnosis involves a combination of symptom analysis and physical examination to determine the extent and type of tumour. Furthermore, the doctor may also examine your medical history since heredity is a risk factor for cardiac diseases. Here are some common diagnostic tests which are recommended to determine cardiac tumours -

• Transthoracic echocardiogram to find tumours in the ventricles (lower chambers of your heart).
• Transesophageal echocardiogram is helpful for finding tumours in the atria (upper chambers of your heart).
• A cardiac MRI helps the doctor identify whether the tumour is cancerous or not.
• Contrast-enhanced cardiac CT scans are useful for people with implanted devices and cannot undergo an MRI.
• PET scan is used to check the spread of cancer to other parts of your body.

Cardiac tumour treatment aims at eliminating the cause of the tumour and preventing the condition from spreading further. While doctors may recommend medications in case of mild to moderate symptoms, it is usually advisable that you undergo surgery. Surgery is very successful in removing tumours if they’re small. There may be some complications involved with larger tumours and therefore, the doctor may recommend alternative methods without interfering with the heart function. Children with fibroma may also need reconstructive surgery to fix any underlying condition in the heart. 

Cancerous heart tumour treatments aim to remove affected cells. One of the most reliable methods for cardiac tumour treatment includes chemotherapy or radiation. Chemotherapy is used to slow cancer’s progression and manage complications. 

BM Birla Heart Research Centre is a super speciality hospital with modern infrastructure and state-of-the-art technology in Kolkata. BM Birla Heart Research Centre is the only hospital offering super speciality cardiac care in entire eastern India. With a 200+ bed capacity, cardiac rehabilitation services, cath labs and modular OTs, BM Birla Heart Research Centre has made a mark with its singular focus on the treatment of a variety of cardiac ailments. Here are a few advantages of choosing BM Birla Heart Research Centre for cardiac tumour treatment in Kolkata:

• Highly qualified and experienced cardiologists
• Cutting-edge technology and the latest medical equipment
• Transparent pricing structure for cost-effective treatment. 
• Patient-centric high-quality care for a high success rate

Since there is no known cause of cardiac tumour, the prevention aims to reduce the chances of progressing the condition. The doctor may ask you to cut down on smoking and other lifestyle habits which can affect heart health.