The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 37, 249-253, Copyright © 1984 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Cardiac rhabdomyoma in the neonate: surgical management
ED Foster, EW Spooner, MA Farina, RM Shaher and RD Alley
Rhabdomyoma is the most common cardiac neoplasm in neonates. Tuberous
sclerosis is found in half of the patients with rhabdomyomas. We maintain a
surgical policy of accepting for operation only neonates in whom it has
been demonstrated that the primary cause for hemodynamic compromise is
obstructing, intracavitary neoplasms. Only the intracavitary portions of
the rhabdomyoma are excised; no effort is made to completely remove all
intramural tumors. Rhabdomyomas demonstrate benign pathological
characteristics and may regress. Neonates with rhabdomyomas but no
hemodynamic impairment, or those in whom only intramural masses can be
demonstrated, are not considered surgical candidates. Tuberous sclerosis by
itself should not be judged a contraindication to operation. The results of
our surgical policy regarding rhabdomyomas in neonates are reported in two
case presentations.
