Unusual Outcome of a Right Ventricular Rhabdomyoma in an Infant

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Pediatric Oncology
• Tumor Biology

Background:

• Rhabdomyomas are the most frequent benign primary cardiac tumors, often linked to tuberous sclerosis.
• Spontaneous regression is a common outcome for cardiac rhabdomyomas.

Observation:

• An infant presented with a large, nonobstructive right ventricular rhabdomyoma at birth and four months.
• The rhabdomyoma progressed to cause severe right ventricle outflow tract obstruction by six months of age.

Findings:

• This case demonstrates a rare progression of a cardiac rhabdomyoma from nonobstructive to obstructive.
• Surgical intervention was required to remove the tumor causing significant outflow tract obstruction.

Implications:

• Close surveillance is crucial for infants diagnosed with large cardiac rhabdomyomas, irrespective of initial obstruction.
• Understanding the dynamic growth patterns of cardiac rhabdomyomas is essential for timely clinical management.