Echocardiography and Newer Imaging Techniques in Diagnosis and Long-Term Follow-Up of Primary Heart Tumors in Children

Aleksandra Morka, Joanna Kohut, Beata Radzymińska-Chruściel, Tomasz Mroczek, Marcin Gładki, Piotr Weryński, Andrzej Rudziński, Janusz Skalski and Lesław Szydłowski
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Aleksandra Morka: Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, University Children’s Hospital, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 30-663 Kraków, Poland
Joanna Kohut: Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 40-752 Katowice, Poland
Beata Radzymińska-Chruściel: Clinic of Fetal Echocardiography, Medical Centre UJASTEK, 31-752 Kraków, Poland
Tomasz Mroczek: Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, University Children’s Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 30-663 Kraków, Poland
Marcin Gładki: Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, University Children’s Hospital, 30-663 Kraków, Poland
Piotr Weryński: Department of Pediatric Cardiology, University Children’s Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 30-663 Kraków, Poland
Andrzej Rudziński: Department of Pediatric Cardiology, University Children’s Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 30-663 Kraków, Poland
Janusz Skalski: Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, University Children’s Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 30-663 Kraków, Poland
Lesław Szydłowski: Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 40-752 Katowice, Poland

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 15, 1-14

Abstract: Background: Primary heart tumors (PHTs) in the pediatric population are very rare and do not manifest any characteristic symptoms. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 61 cases was undertaken. Data from three centers for the years 2003–2018 were gathered. The tumors’ clinical course, location, number, hemodynamic, treatment, and follow-up were evaluated. Echocardiography was complemented with magnetic resonance imaging, computer tomography, and histopathological examination. Results: Out of 61 PHT diagnoses, 56 (91.8%) were circumstantial including all 16 (26.2%) prenatal tumors. The reasons for cardiological consultations were arrhythmia, syncopes, lowered physical performance, and murmurs. Only five patients (8.2%) were suspected of tumors based on previous symptoms of sclerosis tuberosa. Rhabdomyoma was the most frequently found PHT (60.7%). The tumors were predominantly located in the ventricles (49.1%) and intraventricular septum (14.9%) and tended to be single (70.5%). About 37.7% of patients suffered from coexistent multi-organ problems, two (3.28%) from congenital heart defects and one (1.64%) from Carney’s syndrome. Tumor resection was performed on 26 (42.7%) patients, of which 16 (61.5%) underwent total and 10 (38.5%) partial tumor resection. During the follow-up (mean 4.3 years), 54 patients (88.5%) have improved or were stable, while seven (11.5%) died. Conclusions: Primary pediatric heart tumors are diagnosed completely circumstantially, and the most common is rhabdomyoma, although arrhythmia may suggest fibroma. Diagnosis of a heart tumor in children is not synonymous with fatal prognosis, and most of them require only constant observation. Life-saving operation allows improvement, while the prognosis for malignant tumors in children is definitely unfavorable.

Keywords: primary heart tumor; rhabdomyoma; sclerosis tuberosa; children (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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