Primary Cardiac Tumors in Infancy: A Case Report and Literature Review

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Pathology
• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Forensic Science

Background:

• Sudden death in infants is uncommon, with primary cardiac tumors being an exceedingly rare cause.
• This case involves an 8-month-old male infant presenting with sudden cyanosis and loss of consciousness after feeding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a rare case of sudden infant death attributed to a primary cardiac tumor.
• To elucidate the cause, manner, and mechanism of death through forensic autopsy and histological examination.

Main Methods:

• Forensic autopsy of an 8-month-old infant with a history of sudden collapse.
• Histological examination of a cardiac mass identified during autopsy.
• Clinical correlation of autopsy findings with reported events.

Main Results:

• Autopsy revealed a eutrophic infant with cyanosis and no signs of external trauma.
• A single, white, whorled cardiac tumor was found in the anterior wall of the left ventricle.
• Histological diagnosis confirmed the tumor as a fibroma.

Conclusions:

• The infant's death was attributed to cardiogenic shock resulting from a primary cardiac fibroma.
• This case highlights the potential for cardiac fibromas to cause sudden, fatal events in infants.
• Emphasizes the importance of considering cardiac pathology in unexplained sudden infant deaths.