Fetal cardiac masses

Although rare in the pediatric population, cardiac tumors represent a significant portion of prenatally detected masses, second only to sacrococcygeal teratomas. Fetal cardiac masses are predominantly benign, with rhabdomyoma being the most common fetal cardiac mass in the setting of tuberous sclerosis. Multiple lesions are pathognomonic for rhabdomyomas and prompt evaluation for tuberous sclerosis. Fibroma, teratoma, and hemangioma are other consistently detected cardiac tumors. In this article, we review the epidemiology, imaging, treatment, and outcomes of these fetal cardiac masses, emphasizing the role of imaging in surveillance, identifying complications, refining the differential diagnosis, and recognizing potential diagnostic pitfalls.