| Sarcoma
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Etiology
•Unknown.
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Pathogenesis
•Unknown,
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Epidemiology
•Angiosarcomas are the most common type. However, any
type of soft tissue sarcomas can occur in the heart.
•These are all rare tumors.
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General Gross Description
•The angiosarcomas typically involve the right side,
usually the right atrium.
•Any anatomic site is subject to involvement within the
heart, with extension in any direction, and possibly
involving the parietal pericardium as well.
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General Microscopic Description
•Varies according to which of the soft tissue tumors
is identified.
•Some examples are too undifferentiated to classify,
even with advances in immunohistochemistry.
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Clinical Correlation
•Clinical presentation may be due to any combination
of one or more of the following 3 pathophysiological
mechanisms:
1. Arrhythmias
2. Mechanical obstructive effects, e.g. obstruction
of any valve with right or left sided heart failure.
Mitral and pulmonic valves most commonly involved.
3. Systemic "acute phase reactions", fever, weight
loss, and malaise (TNF?, interleukin-6?), even
before cardiac manifestations appear.
•Survival for at most one year after symptoms ensue.
•Aggressive surgery is appropriate with successes and
failures.
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References
•Cardiovascular Pathology, 2nd ed. Silver MD (ed), Philadelphia: Saunders, 1991. pp. 1324-1331.
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| Sarcoma
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| Synopsis by: J. Hasson, MD (T32100M89003)[359]
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