All issues > Volume 33(11); 1990

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1990;33(11):1540-1547. Published online November 30, 1990.

Cardiac Tumor in Children.

Eun Jung Bae¹, Young Hwue Kim¹, Jung Yun Choi¹, Yong Seung Hwang¹, Hyo Seop Ahn¹, Yong Soo Yun¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

Received: April 28, 1990;  Accepted: August 21, 1990.

Abstract

Primary cardiac tumor is very rare and has been a medical curiosity but is potentially curable by current management with improvements of the imaging apparatus and the surgical technique. Metastatic cardiac tumor is also very rare and is more difficult to diagnose than primary ones because of lack of specific symptoms. Twelve cases of cardiac tumor, collected from 1978 to 1989 at the Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Hospital were investigated in order to analyse clinical features and laboratory findings especially echocardiographic results. In the period of 11 years, there were 10 cases of primary cardiac tumors (7 cases of rhabdomyoma, 1 case of fibroma, 1 case of myxoma and 1 case of uncertain type) and 2 cases of metastatic tumors. All the cases of rhabdomyoma were associated with tuberous sclerosis and 4 out of 7 cases were presented with seizure in infancy. Among 12 cases, cardiac murmur was detected in 4 (33%) and tachyarrhythmia in 1 (8%) and heart failure in 4 (33%). No significant cardiac symptoms or signs were found in 5 from 12 cases. Chest X-ray showed cardiomegaly and/or abnormal cardiac contour in about half of the cases and the rest half showed no abnormalities. Two-dimensional echocardiogram was performed in 8/10 primary cardiac tumor and 2/2 metastatic tumor. It showed multiple masses involving ventricles and ventricular septum in rhabdomyoma. In two cases of metastatic tumor, echocardiogram showed not only intracardiac tumor masses, but also the original masses around the heart and attached vessels. Cardiac rhabdomyoma is not rare and often found in tuberous sclerosis patients even in the cases without any cardiac symptoms or signs. Two-dimensional echocardiogram seems useful not only in making diagnosis but also in assessing tumor extent and its hemodynamic impact.

Keywords :Cardiac tumor, Rhabdomyoma, Tuberous sclerosis, Metastatic tumor