CHONDROSARCOMA METASTATIC TO THE HEART

This review summarizes the clinical manifestations and results of treatment of chondrosarcoma metastatic to the heart. Including the patient in the present report, a total of 18 patients have been reported.

The most common site of cardiac metastasis was the right atrium. Dyspnea and pleuritic chest pain were the most common symptoms associated with cardiac metastases.

The median time from the initial diagnosis of primary chondrosarcoma to death was 36 months, and the median time from the initiation of cardiac symptoms to death was 2 months. Treatment of primary chondrosarcoma included local radical resection in 14 patients.

Treatment of cardiac metastases consisted of palliative support in 13 patients and surgical resection in 5 patients. Median survival following the development of cardiac symptoms was 2 months for patients treated nonsurgically and 18 months for those who underwent resection of cardiac metastases. The longest survival (24 and 28 months) was obtained in 2 patients with metastases confined to the heart that were successfully resected soon after development of cardiac symptoms.

These results suggest that surgical resection of cardiac metastases in patients without widespread other metastases can result in substantial prolongation of life.

From: The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 45, 291-295,
CY Leung, RG Cummings, KA Reimer and JE Lowe

Department of Surgery,
Duke University Medical Center,
Durham, NC 27710.
Copyright © 1988 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons