Fetal cardiac tumors: prenatal diagnosis and outcome. 2007

S R Lacey, and M T Donofrio
Virginia Commonwealth University Health System, 1200 East Broad Street, Box 980026, Richmond, VA 23298, USA.

We present our experience in the management of fetuses diagnosed with huge cardiac tumors. These cases illustrate that the size of the tumor likely does not impact on survival as much as the location of the tumor and how it compromises blood flow into and out of the ventricles. We speculate that obstruction of right-sided inflow and/or simultaneous obstruction to outflow from both ventricles may lead to diminished cardiac output, atrial and caval hypertension, and hydrops fetalis. Obstruction can occur at any point in gestation and depends on both the size and the location of the tumor in relation to all cardiac structures. We therefore suggest serial assessment of these fetuses throughout gestation, particularly after the point of postnatal viability, to assess the hemodynamic effects that the tumor has on the heart. If obstruction to blood flow and/or early fetal compromise is noted, then the decision of whether to deliver early can be made. At the time of birth, if obstruction to blood flow persists, surgery can be considered, keeping in mind that the natural history of these tumors is to shrink and become clinically less important over time.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D005260 Female Females
D005333 Fetus The unborn young of a viviparous mammal, in the postembryonic period, after the major structures have been outlined. In humans, the unborn young from the end of the eighth week after CONCEPTION until BIRTH, as distinguished from the earlier EMBRYO, MAMMALIAN. Fetal Structures,Fetal Tissue,Fetuses,Mummified Fetus,Retained Fetus,Fetal Structure,Fetal Tissues,Fetus, Mummified,Fetus, Retained,Structure, Fetal,Structures, Fetal,Tissue, Fetal,Tissues, Fetal
D006338 Heart Neoplasms Tumors in any part of the heart. They include primary cardiac tumors and metastatic tumors to the heart. Their interference with normal cardiac functions can cause a wide variety of symptoms including HEART FAILURE; CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIAS; or EMBOLISM. Cardiac Cancer,Cardiac Carcinoma,Cardiac Neoplasms,Cardiac Tumor,Cardiac Tumors,Heart Cancer,Heart Tumor,Intracavitary Tumors of the Heart,Myocardial Tumors (Rhabdomyomas and Fibromas),Neoplasms, Cardiac,Neoplasms, Heart,Primary Cardiac Tumors, Childhood,Cancer, Cardiac,Cancer, Heart,Cancers, Cardiac,Cancers, Heart,Carcinoma, Cardiac,Carcinomas, Cardiac,Cardiac Cancers,Cardiac Carcinomas,Cardiac Neoplasm,Heart Cancers,Heart Neoplasm,Heart Tumors,Myocardial Tumor (Rhabdomyomas and Fibromas),Neoplasm, Cardiac,Neoplasm, Heart,Tumor, Cardiac,Tumor, Heart,Tumor, Myocardial (Rhabdomyomas and Fibromas),Tumors, Cardiac,Tumors, Heart,Tumors, Myocardial (Rhabdomyomas and Fibromas)
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D012207 Rhabdomyoma A benign tumor derived from striated muscle. It is extremely rare, generally occurring in the tongue, neck muscles, larynx, uvula, nasal cavity, axilla, vulva, and heart. These tumors are treated by simple excision. (Dorland, 27th ed; DeVita Jr et al., Cancer: Principles & Practice of Oncology, 3d ed, p1354) Rhabdomyomas
D015160 Hydrops Fetalis Abnormal accumulation of serous fluid in two or more fetal compartments, such as SKIN; PLEURA; PERICARDIUM; PLACENTA; PERITONEUM; AMNIOTIC FLUID. General fetal EDEMA may be of non-immunologic origin, or of immunologic origin as in the case of ERYTHROBLASTOSIS FETALIS. Edema, Fetal,Fetal Edema,Fetal Hydrops,Familial Non-Immune Hydrops Fetalis,Hydrops Fetalis Nonimmune,Hydrops Fetalis, Idiopathic,Hydrops Fetalis, Immune,Hydrops Fetalis, Non-Immune,Hydrops Fetalis, Nonimmune,Idiopathic Hydrops Fetalis,Immune Hydrops Fetalis,Non-Immune Hydrops Fetalis,Familial Non Immune Hydrops Fetalis,Fetali, Idiopathic Hydrops,Fetalis Nonimmune, Hydrops,Fetalis Nonimmunes, Hydrops,Fetalis, Idiopathic Hydrops,Hydrops Fetali, Idiopathic,Hydrops Fetali, Nonimmune,Hydrops Fetalis Nonimmunes,Hydrops, Fetal,Idiopathic Hydrops Fetali,Nonimmune Hydrops Fetali,Nonimmune Hydrops Fetalis,Nonimmune, Hydrops Fetalis,Nonimmunes, Hydrops Fetalis
D016216 Ultrasonography, Prenatal The visualization of tissues during pregnancy through recording of the echoes of ultrasonic waves directed into the body. The procedure may be applied with reference to the mother or the fetus and with reference to organs or the detection of maternal or fetal disease. Fetal Ultrasonography,Prenatal Diagnosis, Ultrasonic,Ultrasonography, Fetal,Diagnosis, Prenatal Ultrasonic,Diagnosis, Ultrasonic Prenatal,Prenatal Ultrasonic Diagnosis,Prenatal Ultrasonography,Ultrasonic Diagnosis, Prenatal,Ultrasonic Prenatal Diagnosis,Diagnoses, Prenatal Ultrasonic,Diagnoses, Ultrasonic Prenatal,Prenatal Diagnoses, Ultrasonic,Prenatal Ultrasonic Diagnoses,Ultrasonic Diagnoses, Prenatal,Ultrasonic Prenatal Diagnoses
D016896 Treatment Outcome Evaluation undertaken to assess the results or consequences of management and procedures used in combating disease in order to determine the efficacy, effectiveness, safety, and practicability of these interventions in individual cases or series. Rehabilitation Outcome,Treatment Effectiveness,Clinical Effectiveness,Clinical Efficacy,Patient-Relevant Outcome,Treatment Efficacy,Effectiveness, Clinical,Effectiveness, Treatment,Efficacy, Clinical,Efficacy, Treatment,Outcome, Patient-Relevant,Outcome, Rehabilitation,Outcome, Treatment,Outcomes, Patient-Relevant,Patient Relevant Outcome,Patient-Relevant Outcomes

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