Secondary malignant lesions of the heart and pericardium in neoplastic disease.

The present work is based on the analysis of clinical data and instrumental studies of 240 patients with metastases and malignant tumors extended to the heart and pericardium. Tumor lesion process of the pericardium is accompanied by the complex of symptoms of acute pericarditis (fibrosis, effusional, constrictive), rapid enlargement of the heart shadow, in combination with changes of voltage and ECG complexes, appearance of echo-free spaces, presence of atypical cells in pericardial effusion. The process of tumor extension to the myocardium is characterized by the following factors: progressive refractory cardiac decompensation, steady rhythm disturbances without any dynamic changes, appearance of stenosal murmurs, enlargement and blurredcontours of the heart shadow on chest roentgenograms, appearance of echocardiographic spaces with akinesia and hyperkinesia.