It is much more common to find metastasis from an alternate site than a primary heart tumor. However, primary cardiac tumors do occur. One of these is the cardiac rhabdomyoma. Approximately 80-90% of these tumors are found in patients with
tuberous sclerosis, a genetic condition causing multiple tumors, with most found prior to the age of one. Although these tumors are most commonly treated with resection, symptomatic tumors in fetuses have been shown to decrease in size after maternal
sicrolimus administration. If clinically silent, they can be watched with routine imaging as the tumor will likely spontaneously regress. However, if symptomatic, most patients will present with
heart failure or an
arrhythmia such as
ventricular tachycardia or
heart block. The severity of the symptoms will vary based on the size of the mass.
Detection Cardiac rhabdomyomas are usually found in the
ventricular walls or on the
valves of the heart. With imaging techniques such as
ultrasound and
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), these tumors are being detected with increased frequency and even in the prenatal period. Routine surveillance of children with tuberous sclerosis for cardiac rhabdomyoma or other cardiovascular manifestations of their disease may include
electrocardiogram (EKG) and
echocardiography. ==Additional images==