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Cardiac hemangiomas
C Brizard1, C Latremouille, V A Jebara
1Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Hôpital Broussais, Paris, France.
Insights
Cardiac hemangiomas, rare benign heart tumors, can cause symptoms by compressing heart structures. Diagnosis involves imaging, and surgical removal offers a favorable long-term outcome.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Oncology
- Radiology
Background:
- Cardiac hemangiomas are uncommon benign vascular neoplasms originating in the heart.
- Fewer than 23 cases have been documented in medical literature.
- Symptoms typically arise from mechanical effects, such as compression of cardiac chambers or obstruction of blood flow.
Observation:
- Echocardiography is often the initial imaging modality, suggesting a cardiac mass.
- Advanced imaging like contrast-enhanced CT or MRI confirms hypervascularity, indicative of a tumor.
- Coronary arteriography aids diagnosis by revealing a characteristic 'tumor blush' pattern.
Findings:
- Diagnosis is established through a combination of echocardiography, CT/MRI, and coronary arteriography.
- Surgical resection, performed with cardiopulmonary bypass, is the primary treatment.
- The long-term prognosis following surgical intervention is generally positive.
Implications:
- Early and accurate diagnosis of cardiac hemangiomas is crucial for timely intervention.
- Understanding the diagnostic imaging characteristics aids clinicians in identifying these rare tumors.
- Successful surgical management leads to favorable patient outcomes, highlighting the importance of surgical expertise.
Abstract:
Cardiac hemangiomas are rare benign vascular tumors of the heart. To date, 23 cases have been reported. Symptoms are usually due to compression of cardiac structures or obstruction of outflow tracts. Echocardiography usually directs the diagnosis toward a cardiac mass. Enhanced-contrast computed tomographic scan or magnetic resonance imaging establishes the diagnosis of hypervascularized cardiac tumor. Coronary arteriography establishes the diagnosis by showing the characteristic tumor blush. Surgical resection is done using cardiopulmonary bypass. Long-term outcome is favorable.