The diagnosis, clinical course and follow-up of children with cardiac tumours - a single-centre experience.

BACKGROUND

Rhabdomyoma is the most frequent primary cardiac tumour in children (about 50% of all cardiac neoplasms in this population). Fibroma, myxoma, teratoma and haemangioma are less frequent.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinical presentation, diagnosis and follow-up of children diagnosed with cardiac tumours in our department between 1993 and 2008.

METHODS

In the 15-year review we found 9 cases of cardiac tumours, confirmed in echo scan in every case and pathomorphologically in 5 out of 9 cases.

RESULTS

Cardiac tumours were found in six boys and three girls, usually in the neonatal period. Cardiac murmur was the most common clinical symptom (4 cases). Two children were symptom-free. Out of the remaining children, two had circulatory failure and one had arrhythmia. Five children were operated on: three cases of rhabdomyoma, one fibroma and one teratoma. In 3 children who did not undergo surgery, the most probable diagnosis was rhabdomyoma. The follow-up (possible in 8 out of 9 cases, mean 7 years) showed that six children developed regularly and in two cases neurological abnormalities appeared.

CONCLUSIONS

In this series, primary cardiac tumours presented as murmurs or circulatory failure. Most children needed surgery. In most cases, pathomorphology revealed rhabdomyoma. Follow-up showed regular development in six out of nine cases.