Clinical value of prenatal echocardiographic examination in the diagnosis of fetal cardiac tumors

Yu,Qin; Zeng,Wenhua; Zhou,Aiyun; Zhu,Wan; Liu,Juan

doi:10.3892/ol.2015.4061

Clinical value of prenatal echocardiographic examination in the diagnosis of fetal cardiac tumors

Authors:
- Qin Yu
- Wenhua Zeng
- Aiyun Zhou
- Wan Zhu
- Juan Liu
View Affiliations

Affiliations: Department of Ultrasonic Diagnosis, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
Published online on: December 28, 2015 https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2015.4061
Pages: 1555-1559

Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )

Metrics: Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )

Cited By (CrossRef): 0 citations Loading Articles...

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to explore the clinical value of prenatal echocardiographic examination in the diagnosis of fetal cardiac tumors. In total, the cases of 8 fetuses with fetal cardiac tumors, which were identified by prenatal ultrasound examination in The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University between January 2012 and January 2014, were retrospectively analyzed. The size, shape, location, activity and hemodynamic changes of the lesions were described in detail, and the patients were followed up. Out of the 8 identified cases of fetal cardiac tumors, 2 fetuses contained tumors only in the left ventricular cavity and 6 fetuses contained tumors of the left and right ventricular cavities, interventricular septum and apex of the heart. Overall, 5 of the 8 female patients requested termination of the pregnancy and labor was induced. The fetuses were pathologically confirmed to possess rhabdomyoma. In addition, 1 patient was followed‑up for 5 weeks, and the tumor in the fetal heart cavity was found to have enlarged and developed in multiple regions when follow‑up was performed. The patient then requested termination of the pregnancy and labor was induced. The fetus was pathologically confirmed to possess rhabdomyoma. The remaining 2 patients insisted on continuation of the pregnancy and the fetuses were followed up during gestation and subsequent to birth by echocardiographic examination. Prenatal echocardiography may precisely position and diagnose occupying lesions of the fetal heart, which is of considerable value in clinical decision making and instruction for treatment.

View Figures

View References

1	Silverman N: Primary cardiac tumors. Ann Surg. 191:127–138. 1980. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
2	Smythe JF, Dyck JD, Smallhorn JF and Freedom RM: Natural history of cardiac rhabdomyoma in infancy and childhood. Am J Cardiol. 66:1247–1249. 1990. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
3	Stellingwerff GC, Hess J and Bogers AJ: Left ventricular rhabdomyoma. A case report. J Cardiovas Surg (Torino). 40:131–133. 1999.
4	DeVore GR, Hakim S, Kleinman CS and Hobbins JC: The in utero diagnosis of an interventricular septal cardiac rhabdomyoma by means of real-time-directed, M-mode echocardiography. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 143:967–969. 1982.PubMed/NCBI
5	DeVore GR: Assessing fetal cardiac ventricular function. Semin Fetal Neonatal Med. 10:515–541. 2005. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
6	Van der Hauwaert LG: Cardiac tumors in infancy and childhood. Br Heart J. 33:125–132. 1971. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
7	Björkhem G, Lundström NR and Lingman G: Intracardiac rhabdomyomas in neonates: Report of three cases. Acta Paediatr. 81:712–715. 1992. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
8	Hamner LH III, Kaye MF and Weingold AB: Difficulty of fetal monitoring in a fetus with intracardiac tumors. Obstet Gynecol. 73:477–481. 1989.PubMed/NCBI
9	Matsui M and Gardiner H: Current aspects of fetal cardiovascular function. Fetal Matern Med Rev. 19:61–84. 2008. View Article : Google Scholar
10	Van Mieghem T, DeKoninck P, Steenhaut P and Deprest P: Methods for prenatal assessment of fetal cardiac function. Prenat Diagn. 29:1193–1203. 2009. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
11	Hornberger LK: Role of quantitative assessment in fetal echocardiography. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 35:4–6. 2010. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
12	World Medical Association: WMA Declaration of Helsinki - Ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects. http://www.chcuk.co.uk/pdf/Declaration_of_Helsinki_2008_Version.pdfAccessed. October 20–2014
13	Schmaltz AA and Apitz J: Primary heart tumors in infancy and childhood: Report of four cases and review of literature. Cardiology. 67:12–22. 1981. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
14	Jentarra GM, Rice SG, Olfers S, Saffen D and Narayanan V: Evidence for population variation in TSC1 and TSC2 gene expression. BMC Med Genet. 12:292011. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
15	McAllister HA Jr: Primary tumors of the heart and pericardium. Pathol Annu. 14:325–355. 1979.PubMed/NCBI
16	Foster ED, Spooner EW, Farina MA, Shaher RM and Alley RD: Cardiac rhabdomyoma in the neonate: Surgical management. Ann Thorac Surg. 37:249–253. 1984. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
17	Roach ES, Smith M, Huttenlocher P, Bhat M, Alcorn D and Hawley L: Diagnostic criteria: Tuberous sclerosis complex. Report of the Diagnostic Criteria Committee of the National Tuberous Sclerosis Association. J Clin Neurol. 7:221–224. 1992.
18	Mühler EG, Kienast W, Turniski-Harder V and von Bernuth G: Arrhythmias in infants and children with primary cardiac tumours. Eur Heart J. 15:915–921. 1994.PubMed/NCBI
19	Jóźwiak S, Kotulska K, Kasprzyk-Obara J, Domańska-Pakieła D, Tomyn-Drabik M, Roberts P and Kwiatkowski D: Clinical and genotype studies of cardiac tumors in 154 patients with tuberous sclerosis complex. Pediatrics. 118:e1146–e1151. 2006. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
20	Chen CP, Su YN, Hung CC, Shih JC and Wang W: Novel mutation in the TSC2 gene associated with prenatally diagnosed cardiac rhabdomyomas and cerebral tuberous sclerosis. J Formos Med Assoc. 105:599–603. 2006. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
21	Dal Prato L, Borini A, Coticchio G, Cattoli M and Flamigni P: Half-dose depot triptorelin in pituitary suppression for multiple ovarian stimulation in assisted reproduction technology: A randomized study. Hum Reprod. 19:2200–2205. 2004. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
22	Yim SF, Lok IH, Cheung LP, Briton-Jones CM, Chiu TT and Haines CJ: Dose-finding study for the use of long-acting gongadotrophin-releasing hormone analogues prior to ovarian stimulation for IVF. Hum Reprod. 16:492–494. 2001. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
23	Sonigo P, Elmaleh A, Fermont L, Delezoíde AL, Mirlesse V and Brunelle F: Prenatal MRI diagnosis of fetal cerebral tuberous sclerosis. Pediatr Radiol. 26:1–4. 1996. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
24	Gresser CD, Shime J, Rakowski H, Smallhorn JF, Hui A and Berg JJ: Fetal cardiac tumor: A prenatal cardiographic marker for tuberous sclerosis. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 156:689–690. 1987. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
25	Holley DG, Martin GR, Brenner JI, Fyfe DA, Huhta JC, Kleinman CS, Ritter SB and Silverman NH: Diagnosis and management of fetal tumors. A multicenter experience and review of published reports. J Am Coll Cardiol. 26:516–520. 1995. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI
26	Bertolini P, Meisner H, Paek SU and Sebening F: Special considerations on primary cardiac tumors in infancy and childhood. Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 38(Suppl 2): 164–167. 1990. View Article : Google Scholar : PubMed/NCBI