Heart Tumor Surgery

HEART TUMOR SURGERY (HEART TUMOR REMOVAL)

A heart tumor is the name given to tumors seen in the heart. The tumor may originate from the heart itself, or it may occur when cancer cells that began elsewhere in the body spread to the heart. In 98 percent of cases, a tumor that forms in the heart may not be malignant, meaning it is not a tumor that causes cancer. In the treatment of malignant tumors, the type of tumor is an important factor. Because benign tumors do not spread, they are easier to remove, whereas treatment of malignant tumors can be more challenging. Depending on the patient’s health condition and other factors, drug therapy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgical procedures may be applied. Heart tumor surgery is performed in two ways. Open heart surgery is the traditionally known operation. Minimally invasive surgery, known as closed surgery, is a type of operation that has emerged with advancing technology and is highly preferred.

WHAT IS A HEART TUMOR?

The heart is an organ about the size of an adult’s fist that pumps blood throughout the entire body. The human heart is made of muscle and has 4 chambers (2 atria and 2 ventricles). The main function of the heart is to ensure that blood reaches the whole body. In doing so, it works together with different systems, such as the nervous and endocrine systems, to control the heart rate and other body functions. The heart is located between the right and left lungs, closer to the left side. Various factors such as health status, lifestyle or family history may have adverse effects on a person’s heart health and may cause a heart disease to develop over time.

A tumor is defined as a group or mass of abnormal cells. Every tumor detected does not mean that the person has cancer. Tumors can form in any region of the body and can affect tissues, organs or bones.

Tumors that can form in any part of the body can also occur in the heart. Heart tumors are tumors that grow in the heart by being located in the heart muscle or adjacent structures. They are also called cardiac tumors. They can vary in size and shape from 1 centimeter to 15 centimeters. Benign ones are seen more frequently, while malignant tumors are rarely encountered. Benign ones are usually harmless and have an easy treatment course. However, in some cases they can block certain points of the heart and prevent it from functioning, or make their removal difficult. The most common type is ATRIAL MYXOMA, and there are various other types such as lipoma and fibroma.

Heart tumors can be seen in people of all ages. While benign forms of this tumor are more frequently seen between the ages of 30 and 50, atrial myxoma, the most common type, is seen more often in women between the ages of 30 and 60. Malignant heart tumors rarely originate in the heart. They most often occur when cancer cells from another organ metastasize to the heart. Early diagnosis of a cardiac tumor may lead to better outcomes in the treatment process and results. Factors such as the type and size of the tumor, its location in your heart and your health status may affect your treatment.

HEART TUMOR SYMPTOMS

The symptoms of a heart tumor may vary depending on the type, shape and location of the tumor. Some patients may have no symptoms at all, while others may have mild or severe symptoms. Malignant tumors have symptoms that begin more suddenly and worsen rapidly. In general, heart tumor symptoms include the following:

• Chest discomfort
• Dizziness and fainting
• Vision loss
• Weakness
• Fever and chills
• Heart palpitations and arrhythmia
• Joint pain
• Elevated inflammatory markers
• Loss of appetite
• Night sweats
• Petechiae (small bleeding spots that occur under the skin)
• Shortness of breath
• Swelling in the legs
• Unexplained and involuntary weight loss

Physicians refer to these symptoms as “nonspecific” symptoms. Having one or more of the symptoms mentioned above does not necessarily mean that you have a heart tumor. These symptoms may also be caused by another health problem, just as they may be experienced in a heart disease. Therefore, if you have symptoms and are in doubt, visiting the nearest hospital for a check-up is certainly the best option for your health.

HOW IS A HEART TUMOR DIAGNOSED?

There are several different methods for diagnosing heart tumors. A sudden-onset heart problem in the patient, suspicious findings in some tests they have had, cancer cells in areas close to the heart, or other reasons may lead the physician to suspect a tumor and request a test for it. Diagnosing heart tumors through symptoms is difficult because the symptoms are not specific to the disease and can also be seen in other conditions. A type of heart murmur may occur. This sound is heard when the tumor obstructs the mitral valve, one of the heart valves.

When the physician suspects a heart tumor, imaging tests such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are used to make a precise diagnosis. When a more detailed diagnosis is desired, the chest is opened, a sample of tissue is taken from the tumor in the heart, and it is sent to the laboratory for biopsy.

COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY (CT)

This is the acquisition of detailed images and scans of the desired regions using special X-rays. If a heart tumor is suspected, your doctor may request a computed tomography scan. Thanks to the multi-slice scanning capability of CT technology, high-quality, three-dimensional images of the vessels of the moving heart and the surrounding structures are obtained. Sometimes a contrast agent may be used in CT scans. This substance improves the image by highlighting certain features. This substance may be given to you through a vein or taken orally. It is then excreted from the body in the urine within 24 hours.

MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING (MRI)

Magnetic resonance imaging is the creation of detailed images of tissues or organs using radio waves and a magnetic field. You do not feel any pain or discomfort during an MRI. In the case of a heart tumor, a cardiac MRI is requested. In this way, all parts of the heart, such as the heart valves, chambers and muscles, can be observed in detail. By monitoring blood flow and the movements of other parts, it is determined what damage or problem exists in which part of the heart.

ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY

Echocardiography is an imaging device that records the movement of your heart as a graph. It is also known as heart ultrasound. Echocardiography differs from other imaging options in that it does not use radiation. It uses high-frequency sound waves for imaging. It can be performed in different types according to your doctor’s request. For example, images may be two-dimensional or three-dimensional, or Doppler ultrasound may be preferred if your doctor wants to observe blood flow. Your doctor or team will inform you about the subject when necessary. Echocardiography may last between 40 and 60 minutes.

To be able to observe small tumors, your doctor may find it appropriate to perform an echo using an ultrasound probe inserted through the mouth. This method, called transesophageal echo, is the imaging method that shows the inside of the heart in the most detail.

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WHAT ARE THE HEART TUMOR TREATMENT METHODS?

Heart tumor treatment options vary depending on the type of tumor.

• Benign tumors may be treated surgically if they are small and not in a dangerous location.
• Malignant heart tumors are very rare, but treatment is a difficult process for the patient. The goal of the treatment applied for these tumors, which are located in a vital organ, is to slow the progression and improve the patient’s quality of life. While chemotherapy and radiation therapy are used to slow the progression of cancer, drug therapy may also be started for complications.
• Tumors that metastasize to the heart: Heart tumors most often occur as cancer that began elsewhere and spread to the heart. Therefore, their treatment varies according to the source of the cancer. Chemotherapy may be applied, or surgical removal of the tumor may be preferred. While various drug treatments may be used to slow tumor growth, tubes may be placed in your chest to drain the excess fluid from the tumor.

The surgical procedures applied in heart tumor treatment may differ. Treatment may be performed with open surgery, the traditionally known procedure in which the chest is fully opened, or with closed surgery, which carries a lower risk of complications.

OPEN SURGERY

Open heart surgery is the procedure that most people picture. The surgeon makes a deep vertical incision in the middle of your chest. During the operation, you are connected to a heart-lung machine, after which your heart is stopped and the operation begins in this way. The surgeon removes the tumor along with some of the tissue surrounding it. The surgery then concludes with repairing and restructuring the organ. Because you remain under anesthesia throughout open heart surgery, you will not feel anything during the procedure. However, open heart surgery is a major procedure, and the recovery process may take some time.

MINIMALLY INVASIVE (CLOSED SURGERY)

Unlike traditional surgery, minimally invasive treatment does not require a large incision in the chest. During this procedure, the surgeon makes small incisions to remove the tumor. Then through these incisions. This method, which can be applied today thanks to advanced imaging techniques and other technological developments, is called closed surgery. Because a large incision is not made in the body, it leads to a faster recovery process than open surgery and fewer postoperative complications.

Heart tumors are rarely seen, and surgeries to remove these tumors are performed less frequently than other heart surgeries. In this process, it is most appropriate for your health to choose a hospital or physician experienced in heart tumor treatment and to make sure the hospital has adequate conditions.