Cardiac Masses

Cardiac masses are abnormal growths of tissue within the heart or pericardium, and are categorized as tumors or non-neoplastic masses. Cardiac tumors can comprise muscle (rhabdomyoma), fibrous tissue (fibroma), vascular tissue (hemangioma), mixed tissue (teratoma), fatty tissue (lipoma) and, rarely, metastatic tissue. This chapter reviews the most common cardiac masses found in the pediatric population. Cardiac masses are rare in children, with an estimated incidence of 0.03–0.4%. It is important to remember that many of the primary cardiac tumors in children are associated with hereditary syndromes; for this reason, a consultation with a geneticist is generally recommended for children who present with a prenatal or postnatal diagnosis of a cardiac mass. At the initial echocardiographic evaluation, the tissue diagnosis is usually unknown. Therefore, a comprehensive study of the mass should involve a complete assessment of the morphology and size of the mass, involvement of adjacent cardiac structures, and thorough assessment of valves and ventricular function.