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Removal of a giant cardiac fibroma from a 4-year-old child
1Department of Cardiac Surgery, Humboldt-University, Berlin, Germany.
Insights
A pediatric cardiac fibroma, diagnosed in an infant via imaging, was surgically removed at age 4. This successful intervention resolved ventricular arrhythmias and septal defects, highlighting early diagnosis and treatment of cardiac tumors.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Cardiac Surgery
- Pediatric Oncology
Background:
- Cardiac tumors are rare in infants, necessitating advanced diagnostic techniques.
- Early detection of cardiac masses is crucial for timely intervention and improved outcomes.
Observation:
- An infant presented with a systolic heart murmur, leading to the diagnosis of an interventricular septal tumor.
- The child subsequently developed ventricular arrhythmias, managed with antiarrhythmic medication.
Findings:
- A 45 x 13 x 25 mm cardiac fibroma was completely resected from the interventricular septum.
- Surgical repair of the ventricular septal defect was achieved using a Dacron patch.
- Histopathological analysis confirmed the tumor as a fibroma.
Implications:
- Surgical resection of cardiac fibromas in children can be curative.
- Effective management of associated arrhythmias is essential for postoperative recovery.
- This case underscores the importance of comprehensive cardiac imaging and surgical intervention for pediatric cardiac tumors.
Abstract:
In an 8-month-old infant presenting with a systolic heart murmur, a cardiac tumor was diagnosed by means of 2-dimensional echocardiography, cardiac catheterization, and magnetic resonance imaging. In the following years, the child developed ventricular arrhythmias, which were controlled with antiarrhythmic drugs. The operation was undertaken when the boy was 4 years and 3 months of age. A tumor of the interventricular septum measuring 45 x 13 x 25 mm was resected in toto. The defect in the ventricular septum was closed with a Dacron patch. The postoperative course was uneventful. Histologic examination classified the tumor as a fibroma.