Cardiac synovial sarcoma with translocation (X;18) associated with asbestos exposure

Primary malignant cardiac tumors

Approximately 10% of surgically resected heart tumors are malignant. Of these, over 90% are sarcomas, and the remainder lymphomas. Sarcomas of the heart may be of a variety of histologic types. Angiosarcomas are usually right-sided, typically in the atrium. Most other heart sarcomas arise in the left atrium and may be clinically mistaken for myxoma. Left atrial sarcomas are typically pleomorphic, and may have areas of osteosarcoma or chondrosarcoma.