V. D'Addario, V. Pinto, E. Di Naro, A. Del Bianco, L. Di Cagno, P. Volpe
Prenatal diagnosis and postnatal outcome of cardiac rhabdomyomas
Aims: To evaluate the sonographic appearance of suspected
fetal cardiac rhabdomyomas and their evolution
until delivery and in the postnatal period.
Methods: The study group consisted of 6 patients at 23–37 weeks of gestation referred to our Ultrasonic Unit,
between March 1992 and December 1998, for suspected
fetal cardiac rhabdomyomas.
Results: The cardiac tumors were single in three cases
and multiple in the other cases. The size ranged from 11
to 47 mm. In two cases the tumors arose from the right
ventricle, in one case from the interventricular septum
and in three cases from the left ventricle. Five infants are
alive and in satisfactory hemodynamic compensation,
but three of them developed tuberous sclerosis. In two
infants a regression in the maximum diameter of the
tumor masses has been observed. One child underwent
surgical treatment at the age of six months and the baby
died after surgery.
Conclusions: Two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography
are useful non invasive methods to diagnose
fetal cardiac rhabdomyomas and to monitor their influence
on the fetal cardiac function. However they do not
allow us to recognize which fetuses presenting with
features compatible with rhabdomyomas will develop
tuberous sclerosis.
Journal of Perinatal Medicine, Walter de Gruyter
Print ISSN: 1619-3997
Volume: 30, 04/2002
Pages: 170 - 175
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