10th May 2025

Epidemiology and aetiology

Cardiac tumours are classified as either benign or malignant. Over 90% of primary cardiac tumours are benign, with myxomas being predominant in adults and rhabdomyomas in children. Malignant tumours are most commonly sarcomas (65%) or lymphomas (25%). Cardiac metastases are much more common, and seen associated with melanomas, lymphoma, leukaemia, breast, lung or oesophageal primaries. 

Cardiac myxoma is the most common cardiac tumour overall, comprising 50% of tumours and occurs more commonly in women. It is most frequently diagnosed between the ages of 50-70 years old and 90% are left atrial, and 90% are solitary. They may be familial, associated as part of the Carney complex and therefore seen in younger patients. The Carney complex is an auto-dominant syndrome, comprising multiple and recurrent myxomas of the heart and skin, lentiginosis and endocrine dysfunction.

Sarcomas are more common in men and typically occur between the ages of 30-50 years old. Most rhabdomyomas (around half) are associated with tuberous sclerosis, an autosomal dominant disorder of neurofibromatous lesions, developmental delay and cutaneous lesions.