Cardiac metastases from malignant melanoma

BACKGROUND. Cardiac metastases are uncommon, with the exception of malignan t melanoma. More cases of cardiac involvement are being diagnosed in associ ation with the rising incidence and increasing survival of patients with me lanoma Surgical intervention may be an effective palliative measure and sho uld be considered for selected patients who present with this problem. METHODS. In this article, the authors present clinical, laboratory, and ima ging data from two patients with malignant melanoma who presented with card iac metastases. A discussion of these patients is accompanied by a review o f the current literature on this topic. RESULTS. Two females with known metastatic malignant melanoma presented wit h nonspecific pulmonary symptoms and were found to have intracardiac metast ases involving the right heart. One patient underwent successful surgical r emoval of a large tumor mass, which resulted in relief of symptoms and prev ention of imminent death from cardiac complications. Together with the lite rature review, these cases demonstrate the important clinical features of c ardiac metastases from melanoma and define the best means of diagnosis as w ell as the potential benefits of surgical intervention. CONCLUSIONS. Cardiac involvement by malignant melanoma is now diagnosed wit h increasing frequency. A diagnosis can be made with relative ease, but cli nical suspicion must precede it. Surgery may be useful to palliate symptoms and prevent death from cardiac complications. Cancer 1999;85:78-84, (C) 19 99 American Cancer Society.