Primary heart tumours are rare, but cardiac metastases (usually hematogenously) occur in some patients who die of cancer. Metastases involve the pericardium or penetrate into the myocardium, or both.

The tumours include:

 CARDIAC MYXOMA  [Myxomas are the most common primary cardiac tumor in adults. Most tumors (90 %) arise in the region of the fossa ovale, the left to right ratio is 4:1.

It is usually single and 1 to 10 cm in diameter. They are sessile, pedunculated or papillary type with myxoid appearance 

Microscopically, these are composed of stillate or globular myxoma cells, endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, all lying in an acid mucopolysccharide matrix]

 CARDIAC RHABDOMYOMA  [These are less common than myxoma but are the most common primary heart tumor in children. Grossly, they may be left-sided or right-sided, gray-white tumor, arising in the ventricular wall. Microscopically, they are composed of large, rounded, or polygonal cells rich in glycogen and containing myofibrils. Cytoplasmic strands radiating from the central nucleus to plasma membrane create “spider cells”. Rhabdomyomas are probably hamartomas, some are associated with tuberous sclerosis.] ;

 PAPILLARY FIBROELASTOMA of the heart valves [Papillary fibroelastomas may cause emboli but are usually an incidently finding at autopsy. They are characteristically found on right-sided valves in children and left-sided valves in adults. Grossly, they appear as 3 to 5 mm hair-like projections. Microscopically, filaments have a core of myxoid connective tissue, with smooth muscle cells and fibroblasts, covered by endothelium. They probably derive from organized thrombi]  ;

Epitheloid haemangioma ;  CARDIAC PARAGANGLIOMA  ;

Sarcomas like Angiosarcoma and Rhabdomyosarcoma .

Angiosarcoma is the most common. [These malignant tumors resemble their counterparts in other locations]

Metastatic carcinoma occasionally mimics a primary cardiac neoplasm.

Excision specimens are more usual than biopsy specimens from these tumours.

- Age and sex of the patient :

- Presenting features and their duration:  Cardiac failure , evidence of embolism, arrhythmias, superior vena caval obstruction ;

- Radiological features and diagnosis.

 The Pathologist should comment on the following features in the histopathology report:

- Tumour type and grade ;

- Tissues of the heart involved, where applicable ; 

- Excision margins if assessable ;

- Presence of overlying thrombus.

Special stains:

-Alcian blue to demonstrate acid mucin in myxomas;

- Immunostain for cytokeratin, Factor VIII-related antigen, other

 endothelial markers, markers for myocytes.

Pulmonary Pathology Online Examination of pulmonary and pleural biopsies ; Percutaneous Needle and Trucut Biopsy Specimen  ; Bronchial Biopsy Specimen  ;Transbronchial Biopsy Specimen  ; Transbronchial biopsy in lung transplant recipients  ; Open lung biopsy  ; Lobectomy and pneumectomy specimen ; Histopathological reporting of pulmonary parenchymal biopsies ;Useful chromatic and immuno-stains in pulmonary pathology ;Congenital Cystic Adenomatoid Malformation ; Chondroid Hamartoma ; Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome ; Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome ; Complications of Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome ;  Extrinsic Allergic Alveolitis (Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis) ; Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ;Bronchial Asthma ; Bronchiectasis ; Chronic Bronchitis  ; Emphysema ;Bronchiolitis ; Lipid Pneumonia (Paraffinoma) ; Pulmonary Alveolar Proteinosis ;Pulmonary Thromboembolism ; Other forms of  Pulmonary Embolism ; Pulmonary Infarction ; Pulmonary Hypertension ; Pulmonary Collapse (Atelectasis) and Pneumothorax ; Pulmonary Edema ; Pulmonary Hemorrhage (Eg. Goodpasture's Syndrome) ; Sarcoidosis ; Lymphangioleiomyomatosis ; Localized Fibrous Tumour of the Pleura ; Pulmonary Lymphoproliferative Disease ; Lymphomatoid Granulomatosis ;Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disease ;Biphasic Epithelial/ Mesenchymal Lung Tumours ;Pulmonary Carcinosarcoma ; Pulmonary Blastoma ;Large Cell Neuroendocrine tumour ;