The diagnosis, clinical course and follow-up of children with cardiac tumours – a single-centre experience

Abstract

Background: Rhabdomyoma is the most frequent primary cardiac tumour in children (about 50% of all cardiac neoplasms in this population). Fibroma, myxoma, teratoma and haemangioma are less frequent.
Aim: To investigate the clinical presentation, diagnosis and follow-up of children diagnosed with cardiac tumours in our department between 1993 and 2008.
Methods: In the 15-year review we found 9 cases of cardiac tumours, confirmed in echo scan in every case and pathomorphologically in 5 out of 9 cases.
Results: Cardiac tumours were found in six boys and three girls, usually in the neonatal period. Cardiac murmur was the most common clinical symptom (4 cases). Two children were symptom-free. Out of the remaining children, two had circulatory failure and one had arrhythmia. Five children were operated on: three cases of rhabdomyoma, one fibroma and one teratoma. In 3 children who did not undergo surgery, the most probable diagnosis was rhabdomyoma. The follow-up (possible in 8 out of 9 cases, mean 7 years) showed that six children developed regularly and in two cases neurological abnormalities appeared.
Conclusions: In this series, primary cardiac tumours presented as murmurs or circulatory failure. Most children needed surgery. In most cases, pathomorphology revealed rhabdomyoma. Follow-up showed regular development in six out of nine cases.