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F128The sonographic detection of fetal cardiac rhabdomyomas
Author(s) -
Pinto V.,
Selvaggio S.,
Volpe P.,
D’Addario V.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
ultrasound in obstetrics and gynecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.202
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1469-0705
pISSN - 0960-7692
DOI - 10.1046/j.1469-0705.2000.00015-1-127.x
Subject(s) - medicine , tuberous sclerosis , ventricle , fetus , rhabdomyoma , ultrasound , interventricular septum , prenatal diagnosis , cardiac tumors , radiology , gestation , fetal echocardiography , surgery , pregnancy , cardiology , genetics , biology
Objective To compare the sonographic appearance of suspected cardiac tumors with the postnatal results and to assess the influence of antenatal ultrasound on the management of these lesions. Study design The study group consisted of 6 patients at 28–37 weeks of gestation referred to our Ultrasonic Unit, between March 1992 and December 1998, for suspected fetal cardiac masses. Results All the 6 cases of suspected rhabdomyomas have been confirmed in the neonatal period. The 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 a satisfactory hemodynamic compensation. In two patients a regression in the maximum diameter of the tumor masses has been observed. One case underwent a surgical treatment at the age of six months and the baby died after surgery. In 3 out of 6 cases an association with tuberous sclerosis has been detected. Conclusions Two‐dimensional and Doppler echocardiography are accurate non invasive methods to evaluate fetal cardiac masses. They allow an immediate diagnosis and a reliable follow‐up of fetal and neonatal cardiac tumors. In our cases prenatal diagnosis did not appear to influence the outcome.