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Successful surgical excision of a large left ventricular fibroma in a child
Marta T António1, Andrew J Powell, Pedro J del Nido
1Department of Cardiology, Children's Hospital, Coimbra, Portugal. marta.antonio@gmail.com
Insights
Pediatric cardiac fibromas, though rare, can cause serious heart issues. Surgical removal of large left ventricular fibromas is a safe and effective treatment, preventing the need for heart transplants in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Cardiac Oncology
- Pediatric Cardiac Surgery
Background:
- Primary cardiac tumors in children are uncommon but can lead to significant cardiovascular complications.
- These benign tumors may obstruct blood flow, impair ventricular function, and cause dangerous arrhythmias.
- Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial for managing pediatric cardiac tumors.
Observation:
- A 4-year-old boy presented with recurrent episodes of presyncope.
- Diagnostic imaging revealed a large fibroma within the left ventricle.
- The patient's symptoms were attributed to the cardiac mass.
Findings:
- Surgical resection of the large left ventricular fibroma was successfully performed.
- Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of fibroma.
- The child experienced complete resolution of presyncope symptoms post-operatively.
Implications:
- Surgical excision is a safe and viable treatment option for large pediatric cardiac fibromas.
- This approach can prevent the need for heart transplantation in affected children.
- Highlights the importance of considering cardiac tumors in the differential diagnosis of pediatric syncope and ventricular dysfunction.
Abstract:
Primary cardiac tumours in children are rare. Despite the majority of these tumours being benign, they may cause blood flow obstruction, ventricular dysfunction, and life-threatening arrhythmias. We present a case of a 4-year-old boy with repeated presyncope episodes in whom we found a large left ventricular fibroma. Our case emphasises that surgical resection is safely feasible even with large fibromas, avoiding cardiac transplantation in childhood.
