Surgical and multimodal approaches to right-sided cardiac tumours

Purpose of review: Cardiac tumours present significant clinical challenges due to their wide differential, complex anatomical and physiological implications, as well as the potential for widespread invasion in the case of malignancies. This review synthesizes recent findings surrounding the diagnosis and management of specifically right-sided cardiac tumours, with a particular focus on surgical resection and reconstructive techniques.

Recent findings: Management of cardiac tumours can be categorized into three key phases. First: early and accurate diagnosis is critical for improving outcomes, especially in malignancies. Advances in imaging modalities like MRI, CT, PET-CT, and biopsy techniques enhance diagnostic accuracy. Second: surgical resection is a cornerstone treatment for both benign and malignant right-sided cardiac tumours. Surgery is often curative for benign tumours, while for malignant tumours, R0 resection (complete microscopic removal) in appropriate candidates correlates with better survival. Third: managing cardiac malignancies necessitates a multidisciplinary approach, integrating additional therapies such as chemotherapy, radiation, and emerging immunotherapies tailored to patient and tumour characteristics.

Summary: Managing right-sided cardiac tumours demands interdisciplinary expertise. Standardized protocols are limited by the rarity of cases and insufficient high-quality data. International collaboration and sharing of experiences through prospective registries and clinical studies are essential to advancing knowledge and improving patient outcomes.