Stereotactic body radiation therapy for refractory ventricular tachycardia secondary to cardiac lipoma: A case report

Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 2019 Sep;42(9):1276-1279. doi: 10.1111/pace.13731. Epub 2019 Jun 4.

Abstract

We present the case of a 29-year-old man who developed ventricular tachycardia (VT) secondary to a cardiac lipoma located adjacent to the interventricular groove, which could not be fully resected. Antiarrhythmic drugs and endocardial and epicardial ablation failed to prevent VT recurrence. Finally, noninvasive stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) targeting the lipoma was performed, with a total dose of 24 Gy delivered in three fractions. The number of VT episodes was reduced from 189/24 h before SBRT to 0 after the procedure. At 4-month follow-up, there were no signs of therapy-related complications. Our experience suggests that SBRT could emerge as a viable treatment option for patients with cardiac tumors who develop refractory ventricular arrhythmias.

Keywords: cardiac lipoma; noninvasive radioablation; refractory arrhythmia; stereotactic radiotherapy; ventricular tachycardia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Heart Neoplasms / complications*
  • Humans
  • Lipoma / complications*
  • Male
  • Radiosurgery*
  • Tachycardia, Ventricular / etiology*
  • Tachycardia, Ventricular / radiotherapy*