Heart Tumor Program
The Heart Tumor Program within the Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center is the world’s leading medical destination for heart tumor treatment.
Our dedicated team of imaging specialists, cardiologists, oncologists and surgeons have spent a quarter of a century studying primary and malignant heart tumors.
Setting the Standard of Care for Heart Tumor Treatment
Our heart tumor specialists set the standard on how physicians across the world approach and treat heart tumors.
Left untreated, heart tumors, including types that are noncancerous, can lead to serious complications. Our experts work with you to design the most effective heart tumor treatment plan and ensure you receive the best possible care.
Our specialists are also committed to developing new treatments. These treatments, including autotransplantation, offer hope to people with heart tumors, who are often told by doctors elsewhere that there is no way to help them.
In fact, Houston Methodist experts performed the world’s first successful autotransplantation for a malignant heart tumor and are recognized as the leading experts in this technique. This procedure entails using advanced imaging to build a 3D model of the tumor so the surgeons can practice before performing the surgery.
Leading the Way in Heart Autotransplantation
Conditions Treated
Primary heart tumors – often benign, or noncancerous, including:
- Myxoma – the most common primary benign tumor, typically in the left atrial chamber
- Papillary fibroelastoma – often in or around the heart valves
- Cardiac paraganglioma – usually in the roof of the left atrium
- Hemangioma – in the pericardium, ventricles, atria or tricuspid valve
- Lipoma – often removed because of malignancy risk
- Fibroma – most common in infants and children
- Castleman’s disease – rare disorder caused by a benign lymph node tumor that spreads to the heart
Malignant heart tumors, including:
- Angiosarcoma – aggressive and most common malignant, primary heart tumor originating in the blood vessel lining
- Malignant fibrous histiocytoma – soft tissue sarcoma
- Leiomyosarcoma – cancer of smooth cells found in the involuntary muscles, including the heart
- Rhabdomyosarcoma – a fast-growing tumor causing more than half of the soft tissue sarcomas in children
Diagnostics
Symptoms
- Chest pain
- Increased heart rate
- Fainting
- Dizziness
- Shortness of breath during activity
- Difficulty breathing while lying flat or sleeping
- Persistent cough
- Finger discoloration
- Swelling
- Unintended weight loss
Treatments
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation
- Medications
- Surgery, including autotransplantation