Giant Left Ventricular Rhabdomyoma: From Missed Prenatal Detection to Postnatal Surgical Management

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Pediatric Cardiology
• Fetal Medicine

Background:

• Rhabdomyomas are the most common primary cardiac tumors in infants and children.
• Left ventricular rhabdomyomas can cause significant hemodynamic compromise.
• Prenatal diagnosis of cardiac tumors is often challenging.

Observation:

• A case of a giant left ventricular rhabdomyoma in a 6-month-old male infant is presented.
• The tumor was not detected during routine prenatal screening.
• Postnatal diagnosis was made via routine echocardiography.

Findings:

• Surgical resection of the giant left ventricular rhabdomyoma was successfully performed.
• The importance of vigilant postnatal cardiac assessment is underscored.
• High-resolution fetal echocardiography between 28-32 weeks is valuable for early detection.

Implications:

• Emphasizes the need for enhanced prenatal surveillance protocols for congenital heart conditions.
• Highlights the potential for late detection of cardiac rhabdomyomas.
• Suggests improved diagnostic strategies for fetal cardiac tumors.