A member asked:

I just want to ask does tumor has a heartbeat?

11 doctors weighed in across 5 answers
Dr. Matt Wachsman answered

Specializes in Internal Medicine

No: Tumor's do not have their own organs BUT they do have blood circulation and this can pulse. This is especially true if the STRUCTURE is not a cancer but a malformation of blood vessels. These have blood in them, and can have quite prominent pulsation. follow the podcast on https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/epiphany-of-the-week/id972173760

Answered 3/20/2018

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No: Tumors have the same blood supply as the rest of us and the blood is pumped by the heart. If you have a pulsatile mass, it's unlikely to be a tumor but does need to be evaluated.

Answered 4/5/2015

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Dr. Creighton Wright answered

Specializes in surgery

No: some tumors, masses do have blood flow but a palpable pulse would be unusual unless an aneurysm or artery or ateriovenous mass. Some abdominal masses that lie over aorta feel like pulse -

Answered 8/1/2017

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No!: Tumors do get blood from their heart, so that can be pulsatile on occasions. At times tumor lying on top of a larger blood vessel(like aorta) can transmit the pulsations and appear to have a pulse(heartbeat).

Answered 8/1/2018

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Usually not: When a tumor is palpated under the skin or even at the time of surgery, there is no pulsation in the tumor for the most part. Two conditions alter this in that metastatic thyroid cancer to bone or similarly renal Ca to bone when palpated such as trans rectally when sacrum is palpated will have a strong pulse similar to the heart beat.

Answered 12/4/2015

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