Heart tumor

Of the Heart tumor belongs to the rare tumor types. Like any abnormal growth, it can appear as a benign or malignant heart tumor. Depending on the type and size, treatment is difficult as surgical removal is not always possible.

What is a heart tumor?

As Heart tumor Any form of cell proliferation in the heart area is called that, depending on location and size, affects the heart function differently.

A distinction is made between the various types based on whether they are benign or malignant. Benign or benign heart tumors usually grow slowly without metastasis. That includes that Myxomawhich is more common in women and mostly occurs in the upper left ventricle.

As a malignant cancer, a heart tumor is either a primary tumor or a secondary heart tumor, which as a metastasis can originate in a completely different part of the body. The benign heart tumor can often also be treated surgically, while this is not possible with a cancerous tumor. Cardiac tumors are very rare overall, with the incidence of secondary tumors occurring as metastases increasing.

causes

The cause of one Heart tumor can be found in different areas. It always occurs when there is abnormal cell division. In this, the heart tumor does not differ from other tumor types. This disruption of normal cell division, which then leads to the pathological growths, can have various causes.

Environmental factors are just as important as unhealthy lifestyle habits. In the case of malignant heart tumors, medicine sees a close connection with smoking and alcohol consumption. Radiation damage can also trigger uncontrolled cell growth. This also applies to some viral diseases.

A possible connection with strong sunlight over a long period of time is considered to be a trigger in many forms of cancer. A hereditary form known as the Carney complex is known as a benign heart tumor.

Symptoms, ailments & signs

In addition, there are unspecific general symptoms such as fever or weight loss. Some patients suffer from anemia, which is noticeable, among other things, by tiredness and paleness. The restricted cardiac output leads to shortness of breath and cardiac arrhythmias, but also to serious circulatory problems.

Depending on the size and location of the tumor, heart failure, fainting attacks and strokes can occur. Bleeding into the pericardium can cause hypotension, i.e. low blood pressure. In the long term, heart failure develops, which is associated with chronically restricted performance and other symptoms.

Outwardly, cardiac tumors often show up through the characteristic spots on the skin. These so-called petechiae are small and reddish and can appear all over the body. The tumor causes heart murmurs in around half of the patients. In addition, chest pain and other unspecific symptoms that cannot be clearly attributed to a heart tumor are common.

In the course of the disease, a heart tumor significantly affects the well-being of those affected. The physical and mental performance decreases and there are often emotional complaints. Depressive moods and fears, which manifest themselves in the form of panic attacks and palpitations, are typical.

Diagnosis & course

Of the Heart tumor is often confused with other heart diseases, at least initially. The cause is that the impairment caused by the growing form of the tumor leads to symptoms such as arrhythmia, lack of resilience, chest pain and accelerated heartbeat.

The examination methods used to determine a heart disease are used for diagnosis. In addition to blood tests, this also includes extensive imaging examination methods. If there is already cancer, the diagnosis of a secondary cardiac tumor is obvious if heart problems occur. Some benign heart tumors show little or no impairment.

For the most part, however, the cell proliferations in and on the heart lead to a reduction in physical performance. Affected patients become weakened, lose weight significantly and can be affected by embolism. The cardiac output decreases. Circulatory disorders and a lack of oxygen supply in the extremities occur.

A heart tumor always leads to death if it grows rapidly. This can be through a sudden heart attack, an embolism or cardiac arrest. Until this occurs, the patients become weaker and weaker and suffer greatly from the impairments that the heart tumor causes.

Complications

In many cases, a cardiac tumor leads to patient death because it is not possible to surgically remove or otherwise treat the tumor. For this reason, the life expectancy of the patient is extremely shortened by the heart tumor. This leads to cardiac arrhythmias and furthermore to a heart attack. This can be fatal for the patient.

Sudden cardiac death can also occur, which is usually not preceded by any particular symptoms. Furthermore, most patients suffer from shortness of breath, which can often lead to panic attacks. The patient's resilience drops and severe and stabbing pain occurs directly in the patient's chest. The quality of life of the person affected decreases considerably due to the heart tumor and many everyday activities can no longer be carried out to the usual extent.

Often the patient's heartbeat accelerates even with low stress. The extremities can no longer be adequately supplied with blood and oxygen and in the worst case die. Depending on the region of the heart tumor, it may be able to be removed. However, in most cases death occurs as it is not possible to completely remove the tumor.

When should you go to the doctor?

If signs of heart failure are noticed, possibly with a high fever, the underlying may be a heart tumor. Medical advice is needed if symptoms persist for more than a few days. If symptoms such as joint pain, exhaustion or cardiac arrhythmias arise, the family doctor must be consulted immediately. This is especially true when the symptoms increase and there is no other cause. A clear warning sign of a heart tumor are the small, mostly reddish spots on the skin.

These so-called petechiae indicate a serious condition and should be examined and treated immediately. People who have already had a tumor are particularly at risk. An unhealthy lifestyle can also have a negative impact on heart health and lead to the development of a heart tumor. Anyone who belongs to these risk groups should go to a general practitioner immediately with the symptoms mentioned. Other contacts are the cardiologist, various specialists in internal medicine and, in case of doubt, the medical emergency service.

Doctors & therapists in your area

Treatment & Therapy

Treatment of the Heart tumor strongly depends on whether it is a benign tumor or a cancerous tumor. A benign tumor can be operated on.

The prerequisite is that it is in a suitable place. During the operation, the cell growth is surgically removed. This is usually enough for the impairments to subside. Recurrence with a benign heart tumor is rare. The cancerous tumor on the heart must be treated with chemotherapy or radiation.

There is no surgical removal, as the extensive removal of the tissue from the heart cannot be carried out. In some cases, drugs are used to slow tumor growth. However, the chances of recovery from a malignant heart tumor are slim.

Outlook & forecast

The prognosis of a cardiac tumor is tied to various criteria. The prognosis is based on the size of the tumor, the location of the tissue change, the nature of the heart tumor, existing diseases and the age of the patient. It is to be assessed individually according to the patient's specifications.

In the case of a benign tumor that is easily accessible to the surgeon, the tissue changes are completely removed in a surgical procedure. If there are no other impairments of the heart's activity, the patient can be discharged from treatment within a few months. Check-ups are recommended at regular intervals so that immediate action can be taken if the heart tumor recurs.

The larger the tumor, the more difficult it is to completely remove the diseased tissue, as there may be a risk of tissue damage to the surrounding areas. These trigger functional disorders and can lead to lifelong problems or to a failure of the heart. If the heart tumor grows malignant, doctors often recommend cancer therapy until surgery is carried out to remove the affected tissue.

If there are other diseases of the heart, the patient's chances of recovery worsen. The risk of cardiac failure increases, and with it the death rate. With increasing age, the prognosis also deteriorates.

prevention

At a Heart tumor prevention is possible at least in the form that the individual risk factors are kept as low as possible. This includes a healthy lifestyle without the influence of tobacco products and alcohol. High levels of radiation from excessive sunbathing should also be avoided. This does not completely eliminate the risk of developing a heart tumor.

Aftercare

Follow-up care is essential, especially for tumors. This is carried out by different doctors. In principle, follow-up appointments are also possible in general practitioners' practices if the general practitioner has extensive additional training.

After the surgical removal of a tumor, a grace period must first be observed. The patient should stay in bed for the first few days after the procedure and avoid physical activity if possible. To ensure optimal wound healing, those affected should refrain from going to the sauna, swimming and consuming luxury foods such as alcohol and cigarettes.

Basically, the main goal of tumor follow-up is the timely detection of any new tumors, so-called recurrences. These can occur on the affected organ itself as well as on other organs. Follow-up appointments ensure early detection of possible recurrences. In some cases, this can prevent serious consequences.

In the follow-up care of cardiac tumors, it is also necessary to regularly examine the patient's heart function. In addition, the doctor conducts a thorough anamnesis discussion. This should not only serve to assess the physical condition of the patient, but also reveal any psychosocial problems. In addition to extensive physical examinations, blood tests and imaging processes such as X-rays and ultrasound are used to prevent tumors.

Follow-up care should start immediately after the treatment is completed. Patients are followed up at regular intervals for a period of five years. Depending on the type of tumor, the follow-up examinations may be more or less frequent. In the case of malignant tumors in particular, the patient has to attend follow-up appointments for a lifetime in order to be able to detect a possible new outbreak as quickly as possible.

You can do that yourself

A great deal of emotional stress is required of the patient with a heart tumor. In addition to physical limitations and complaints, mental strengthening is necessary. This can be done through an exchange with close relatives or friends. In some cases, psychotherapy or behavioral therapy helps to deal with the changed living conditions. In addition, the patient has the opportunity to contact other sick people in self-help groups or forums. With mutual help and support, many affected people experience an improvement in their wellbeing and gain new confidence in dealing with the disease on a daily basis.

In order for the body to be able to find sufficient resources for the rigors of a treatment, a balanced and vitamin-rich food intake is important. Despite a loss of appetite, it is necessary to consume healthy foods to strengthen the immune system. In addition, the consumption of nicotine or alcohol should be avoided, as this weakens the organism. Doctors' instructions must be followed to ensure optimal treatment.

Relaxation procedures also help to reduce the mental stress caused by the disease. Techniques such as yoga or meditation can be used independently and responsibly according to their individual needs. In order to strengthen the psyche, leisure activities that promote joy of life also help.