Between December 1968 and March 1990 a total of 51 patients (24 male, 27 female) with a mean age of 49 years (7 months to 76 years) underwent surgery for primary or secondary cardiac tumor. In 46/51 cases (90%) the tumor was benign and in 5/51 (10%) malignant; 41/51 (80%) were myxomas. In 40 patients complete resection of myxoma was possible, whereas in one patient only biopsy was performed. In 6 patients an additional procedure was necessary (CABG 4 times, double valve replacement once, mitral valve reconstruction once). In 17/41 patients (41%) rhythm disturbances were observed postoperatively. No patient died after operation. In one patient surgery of a recurrent myxoma was necessary 18 months after primary operation. In 5/51 patients (10%) surgery of benign non-myxomatous tumor was performed (lipoma twice, cavernous hemangioma once, fibroma once fibrous leiomyoma once). Radical excision of tumor was not possible in 2 cases; both died soon after operation. Surgery of malignant heart tumors was performed in 5/51 patients (10%) (synovialoma once, lymphoma twice, metastasis twice). In 3 patients tumor excision was radical; there was nevertheless recurrence in all patients despite adjuvant therapy. Only 1 patient is still alive 6 months after surgery. Prognosis after surgery for heart tumors is dependent on histology and resectability. Mortality after resection of myxoma is very low, but postoperative rhythm disturbances are frequent. Survival after excision of benign non-myxomatous tumors is dependent on resectability. Malignant cardiac tumors have a very bad prognosis despite chemotherapy and radiotherapy.