Evolution of cardiac rhabdomyoma in tuberous sclerosis complex

The objective of the study was to define the longitudinal evolution of cardiac rhabdomyomas (CR) in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). A cohort of patients with TSC who had undergone videotaped echocardiographic (ECHO) examination during the 10-year interval (1984-1994) were retrospectively studied by reviewing and quantifying the CR appearance and associated cardiac abnormalities in sequentially obtained ECHO examinations. Sixteen patients with TSC (8 males) underwent a total of 35 recorded studies. Ten of the 16 (62.5%) had CR identified at initial study; none were found in the atria. Localization was the ventricular walls as compared with the ventricular septum by a ratio of 2:1. The number of CRs sequentially studied declined as follows; initial study: 23 lesions in 10 patients; second study: 16 lesions in 8 patients; third study: 12 lesions in 5 patients; and fourth study: 4 lesions in 2 patients. Total CR size index declined at each study as follows: initial index of 2,684; second index of 1,746 (-35% from initial); third index 1,141 (-57% from initial); and fourth index 705 (-74% from initial). Complete spontaneous regression of CR was seen by age 6 years with prolonged gradual resolution thereafter. Two patients had bicuspid aortic valves and two had conduction defects. Patients with TSC who have CR can be expected to experience a decline in both the number and size of CR over time; early complete regression on ECHO occurs before age 6 years.