Intraoperative fine needle aspiration diagnosis of cardiac rhabdomyoma. A case report.

BACKGROUND

Cardiac rhabdomyoma is a very common benign tumor in infants and children. It can be confused clinically with a malignant tumor.

METHODS

A 6-year-old girl was admitted with a chief complaint of breathlessness. Chest roentgenography revealed cardiomegaly. Echocardiography showed a right atrial mass. Intraoperative fine needle aspiration showed groups of large, polygonal cells with granular, vacuolated cytoplasm. Rarely were intranuclear inclusions observed.

CONCLUSIONS

The cytologic findings were characteristic of rhabdomyoma.