[1] This benign tumor made by connective tissue and fibroblast is largely observed in the ventricles of the heart.
[1] Symptoms of the disease depend on the size of the tumor, its location relative to the conduction system, and whether it obstructs blood flow.
[5][6][7] Signs and symptoms in cardiac fibroma are nonspecific, some individuals experience arrhythmias, dyspnea, cyanosis, chest-pain and sudden mortality.
[1] In addition, the majority of individuals with cardiac fibroma are asymptomatic therefore leading to signs and symptoms that depend on the size and location of the tumor.
The CT exam provides precise spatial resolution of the tumor meanwhile an MRI provides a comprehensive overview of tissue characterization and does not expose the patient to radiation.
[1] Cardiac fibromas in infancy which are unable to be removed surgically due to size and extensive myocardial infiltration, have a poor prognosis.
The is due to the high ratio of tumor-to-heart size that may produce low cardiac output and as a result lead to a poorer prognosis.
These results suggest that younger individuals diagnosed with cardiac fibroma are associated with a poorer outcome.
However, although younger individuals have smaller hearts, the high ratio of tumor-to-heart sizes may generate low cardiac output, which leads to a poor outcome.
In addition, literature revealed that 18 of 178 patients with cardiac fibroma were diagnosed during prenatal and neonatal periods, resulting in the tumor having a certain size regardless of the child's age.
A surgical procedure was recommended due to the risk of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death.
Follow-up evaluations at six-months and a year showed the patient in good health and no signs of tumor recurrence.
[15] The pathological examination of the cardiac masses showed that rhabdomyoma is the most frequent tumor in children, followed by myxoma and fibromas; morbidity of rhabdomyomas and fibromas were reported higher in infancy, while myxomas were more frequent in older children.