Giant cardiac fibroma

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Cardiac Surgery
• Oncology

Background:

• Left ventricular fibromas are rare, benign cardiac tumors, often asymptomatic but can cause significant complications.
• This case involves a pregnant woman presenting with ventricular premature beats, necessitating urgent cardiac evaluation.

Observation:

• A 29-year-old woman presented with persistent ventricular premature beats during labor.
• Cardiac echocardiography revealed a giant tumor in the posterior wall of the left ventricle.
• The patient was asymptomatic for heart failure despite the large tumor size.

Findings:

• Partial resection of the giant left ventricular tumor was successfully performed using cardiopulmonary bypass.
• Histopathological analysis confirmed the mass as a cardiac fibroma.
• The patient remained well 6 years post-surgery with no evidence of tumor regrowth on serial echocardiography.

Implications:

• Surgical resection of cardiac fibromas, even large ones, can be safely achieved with good long-term outcomes.
• This case underscores the importance of prompt diagnosis and management of cardiac tumors during pregnancy.
• Serial echocardiographic monitoring is crucial for assessing tumor status and preventing recurrence after resection.