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Epicardial cavernous hemangioma: a two-case report
Insights
Two women with cardiac cavernous hemangiomas, a rare heart tumor, underwent surgical removal. Prompt surgical intervention for these epicardial tumors is crucial for patient survival.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Oncology
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Cardiac cavernous hemangiomas are rare benign vascular tumors.
- Epicardial origin is an uncommon presentation of these cardiac tumors.
Observation:
- Two cases of epicardial cavernous hemangiomas are presented in women aged 24 and 79.
- Symptoms included palpitations; one case was incidentally discovered via echocardiography.
- Diagnostic imaging utilized included chest CT, MRI, and coronary CT angiography.
Findings:
- Surgical resection under cardiopulmonary bypass was performed for both patients.
- The younger patient had an uneventful recovery.
- The older patient unfortunately died postoperatively from pneumonia.
Implications:
- Cardiac cavernous hemangiomas, despite rarity, necessitate prompt surgical management.
- Early surgical intervention is vital to prevent life-threatening complications and improve patient prognosis.
Aims:
We report two-cases of cavernous hemangiomas arising from the epicardium in two women aged respectively 24 and 79 years old. The first patient was symptomatic and presented with palpitations. The second patient was referred after a random discovery at echocardiography. Chest CT and MRI were performed in the two cases and showed a mass located in the pericardial cavity. Coronary CT was necessary in the first case to ascertain the degree of coronary artery involvement. Both of our patients underwent surgical resection under cardiopulmonary bypass with an uneventful postoperative course for the first case. The second one, died postoperatively from pneumonia.
Conclusion:
Cardiac cavernous hemangiomas, although rare and well tolerated require prompt management and surgery at discovery to avoid further complications which may put at risk the patient's life prognosis.
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