Rhabdomyoma in the fetus: illustration of tumor growth during the second half of gestation.
Rhabdomyomata are the most common cardiac tumors in childhood and are associated with tuberous sclerosis. These tumors tend to regress in the first years of life. Little is known about their intrauterine growth pattern. We describe three fetuses with cardiac rhabdomyomata and illustrate the tumor growth by serial echocardiographic views during the second half of gestation. Tumor growth is proportional to cardiac growth and tends to be somewhat slower toward the end of pregnancy.
Nir
A
A
Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel 91120. nir@hadassah.org.il
Ekstein
S
S
Nadjari
M
M
Raas-Rothschild
A
A
Rein
A J
AJ
D000328:Adult; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D012207:Rhabdomyoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D014402:Tuberous Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal