Abstract
Fetal cardiac rhabdomyoma is the most common cardiac tumor in fetuses. However, this benign tumor can cause hemodynamic repercussions and intrauterine fetal mortality. The present study reports a case of rare fetal cardiac rhabdomyoma located in the right atrium, accompanied by premature restriction of the foramen ovale and moderate pericardial effusion, as determined by tomographic ultrasound imaging (TUI). Fetal mortality subsequently occurred late in the second trimester of pregnancy and the diagnosis was confirmed by pathology. The present study discusses the occurrence and diagnosis of this rare abnormality. TUI mode with spatio-temporal image correlation offline imaging provides the physician with clear views of abnormal intracardiac structures in the beating heart. With improvements in sonographic technology, the diagnosis of fetal cardiac rhabdomyoma may be easier and more accurate in the clinical arena.
Highlights
Fetal cardiac rhabdomyoma is a rare condition, it is the most common cardiac tumor in fetuses, accounting for 60‐86% of primary fetal cardiac tumors (1)
The present study reports a rare case of fetal cardiac rhabdomyoma located in the right atrium, accompanied by premature restriction of the foramen ovale and moderate pericardial effusion, as determined by tomographic ultrasound imaging (TUI) and confirmed by pathology
The images were reviewed offline by tomographic ultrasound imaging (TUI) and spatio‐temporal image correlation (STIC) imaging, which clearly displayed a 5.0x4.0‐mm mass located in the right atrial wall area (Fig. 4)
Summary
The fetal echocardiography four‐chamber view assessment demonstrated a 6.3‐mm thickening of the right atrial wall. Color Doppler imaging indicated a narrow foramen ovale flow of only 1.9 mm in diameter (Fig. 1). An autopsy of the fetus revealed that the heart was slightly enlarged, with a subendocardial nodule of 4.3x4.0 mm in size located in the right atrium. The nodule was sharply demarcated, exhibiting a reddish‐gray color with a moderately firm texture and the typical appearance of a rhabdomyoma (Fig. 2). Histological hematoxylin and eosin staining revealed nodular hyperplasia with clear boundaries, swirl‐like cells, cords and LI et al: ATRIAL CARDIAC RHABDOMYOMA WITH FORAMEN OVALE RESTRICTION a random orientation. The images were reviewed offline by tomographic ultrasound imaging (TUI) and spatio‐temporal image correlation (STIC) imaging, which clearly displayed a 5.0x4.0‐mm mass located in the right atrial wall area (Fig. 4).
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