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Prognosis: Cardiac myxomas are benign slow-growing tumors. They have no known potential for malignant transformation. However, they can be lethal if they suddenly grow in size after intratumoral hemorrhage and obstruct the mitral valve or if they embolize into coronary or cerebral circulation.
In addition, embolization of viable tumor cells can create extracardiac "metastases." Once the tumor cells get lodged at a remote site, they can extend through the arterial wall into the surrounding tissues. Such systemic metastases of cardiac myxoma have been reported in brain, kidney, pancreas, stomach, and bone. These "metastatic" deposits do not have histologic features of malignancy.
In addition, embolization of viable tumor cells can create extracardiac "metastases." Once the tumor cells get lodged at a remote site, they can extend through the arterial wall into the surrounding tissues. Such systemic metastases of cardiac myxoma have been reported in brain, kidney, pancreas, stomach, and bone. These "metastatic" deposits do not have histologic features of malignancy.