Echocardiography-Guided Radiofrequency Ablation for Cardiac Tumors

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Interventional Cardiology
• Oncology

Background:

• Cardiac tumors pose significant surgical resection challenges, particularly in patients with poor clinical condition.
• Echocardiography-guided transapical radiofrequency ablation for cardiac tumors (TARFACT) presents a potential minimally invasive palliative therapy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of TARFACT as a palliative treatment for cardiac tumors.

Main Methods:

• Five patients with diverse cardiac tumors underwent TARFACT.
• Assessment included electrocardiogram, echocardiography, biochemical analysis, and pathological confirmation.
• Follow-up duration ranged from 4 to 12 months.

Main Results:

• Significant reductions in tumor size were observed (length: 6.7 to 4.7 cm, width: 5.0 to 2.5 cm).
• Patients showed improved NYHA functional class (median reduction from 3.0 to 2.0).
• Echocardiographic parameters (Peak E-wave) and NT-pro BNP levels improved, indicating better cardiac function and reduced strain.

Conclusions:

• TARFACT is a novel palliative treatment for cardiac tumors, demonstrating efficacy in reducing tumor burden.
• The procedure improved clinical symptoms in a preliminary cohort of patients.
• This interventional therapy shows promise for managing cardiac tumors when traditional surgery is not feasible.