Objective:

To evaluate the diagnostic value of echocardiography in primary cardiac tumors.

Methods:

Ultrasonographic features of 79 patients with primary cardiac tumors confirmed with surgical operation and pathology were analyzed retrospectively.

Results:

Echocardiography could show primary cardiac tumors directly including the location

morphosis

size

blood supply and echoegenicity. Among 79 cases with primary cardiac tumors

62 with myxomas

3 with lipomas

2 with rhabdomyomas

2 with fibromas

1 with mesothelioma

3 with angioleiomyosarcoms

4 with rhabdomyosarcomas

and 2 with fibrosarcomas. Seventy cases were benign and 9 were malignant.

Conclusion:

Most primary cardiac tumors were benign and most of them were myxomas. Echocardiography is the only noninvasive method which can provide relia

ble clinical evidences before surgery to differentiate primary cardiac tumors. It may be the first-line imaging modality in the diagnosis of primary cardiac tumors.