Heart tumors can be either not cancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant). Malignant tumors grow into nearby structures or spread to other parts of the body, but benign tumors don’t. Most primary heart tumors are benign. The ESC reports only 25 percent are malignant. Below are the signs of heart cancer.

shortness of breath

swollen legs

chest pain

weakness

fatigue

Tumors that grow inside the heart muscle around the heart’s conduction system can affect how fast and regularly the heart beats, mimicking arrhythmias. Most often, they block the normal conduction path between the atria and ventricles. This is called heart block. It means the atria and ventricles each set their own pace instead of working together.

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Treatment

Echo Cardiogram. This test uses sound to create a moving image showing the structure and function of the heart. It’s the most commonly used test for diagnosis, treatment planning, and yearly follow-up.

CT scan. These images may help differentiate benign and malignant tumors.

MRI. This scan provides more detailed images of the tumor, which may help your doctor determine the type.