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A Protocol for Rapid Post-mortem Cell Culture of Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG)
Published on: March 7, 2017
Primary cardiac tumours in a paediatric population
1Queensland Centre for Congenital Heart Disease, Prince Charles Hospital, Chermside, Queensland, Australia.
Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health
|May 29, 2002
Summary
Primary cardiac tumors in children, though rarely malignant, can lead to significant mortality and morbidity. Early diagnosis and management are crucial for improving outcomes in pediatric patients with these rare heart conditions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Cardiac Oncology
- Congenital Heart Disease
Background:
- Primary cardiac tumors are rare in children.
- These tumors can present with diverse clinical manifestations and histological types.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the presentation, diagnosis, histology, and outcomes of primary cardiac tumors in a pediatric cardiac unit.
- To analyze the management challenges and mortality associated with these tumors.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of hospital records and databases.
- Data collected over a 20-year period (1980-2000).
Main Results:
- Twelve pediatric patients were identified with four histological types: rhabdomyoma, myxoma, fibroma, and myocardial hamartoma.
- Diagnosis occurred prenatally (ultrasound) in five cases and neonatally in three.
- Fifty percent of cases required surgical intervention, with three tumor-related deaths. Two infants developed univentricular physiology due to large left ventricular tumors.
Conclusions:
- Primary cardiac tumors in children, despite lacking malignant histology, are associated with significant morbidity and mortality.
- The development of univentricular physiology in infants with large left ventricular tumors presents a rare but challenging management problem.
