SURGICAL-TREATMENT OF CARDIAC TUMORS IN A DULTS

Between April 1989 and June 1992, 18 patients underwent surgical resec tion of 19 cardiac tumors at the Department of Thoracic, Heart, and Va scular Surgery. 17 of the tumors were classified as benign (1 6 myxoma s, one lipoma), one as a metastasis of a malignant melanoma, and one a s an echinococcus cyst. One patient with associated coronary heart dis ease died postoperatively. Depending on the localisation, size, and ty pe of tumor growth, presurgical clinical symptoms showed many variatio ns. Mean follow-up was 18.1 months. During this time one recurrence of a left atrial myxoma was observed. Postoperative complications were r are; in one case acute mitral insufficiency occurred, requiring mitral valve replacement.