Infantile cardiac fibromatosis: correlation of antemortem and necropsy findings.
In the case presented here of a 2-month-old boy with symptoms of upper respiratory infection, the physical examination, chest X-ray film and electrocardiogram led us to suspect congestive heart failure caused by either a primary or infectious cardiomyopathy or by a structural left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. The echocardiographic findings were the first evidence to suggest the presence of an intracardiac tumor. A cardiac computerized axial tomography scan supported the findings. Operation was performed, but the tumor was unresectable. Biopsies of the mass revealed fibromatosis. The infant was discharged on diuretics, procainamide and propranolol. Approximately 3 weeks following discharge, while at rest, the child suddenly became unresponsive and could not be resuscitated. Postmortem examination verified the degree of precision that can be achieved by noninvasive techniques.
Schaffer
M S
MS
Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, St,. Louis University Medical Center/Cardinal Glennon Memorial Hospital for Children, St. Louis, Missouri 63104, USA.
Nouri
S
S
Waggoner
A
A
deMello
D
D
Pennington
D G
DG