Primary cardiac fibroma in an infant: computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging findings

Abstract

Cardiac fibromas (CFs) are benign primary tumors that typically occur during childhood and may be asymptomatic. However, due to the proximity of CFs to the cardiac structure, significant morbidity and mortality may also be anticipated. CFs do not show spontaneous regression and surgical resection generally remains the treatment of choice for these tumors in children. Thus, it is important to take aggressive steps to obtain accurate pretreatment image diagnosis. A full-term male infant was presented to our facility suffering from shortness of breath, after an episode of upper respiratory tract infection at age 1.5 months. Subsequent chest X-ray revealed widening of the mediastinum and trachea deviation. Cardiogenic pathology was suspected. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging were performed, and we confirmed a diagnosis of benign CF. Thoracotomy biopsy of the tumor confirmed the pathological diagnosis.

Keywords: cardiac fibroma; computed tomography; magnetic resonance imaging.