title: Cardiac fibromas in the adult.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardiac fibromas are primarily detected in infants and children but are extremely rare in adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report a case of a cardiac fibroma in a 37 year old male and review the literature on this subject.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patient was referred for evaluation of a cardiac mass. Echocardiography and computed tomography examinations revealed it as an inhomogeneous mass with calcifications. Subsequently, the lesion was completely excised and confirmed to be a cardiac fibroma. Cardiac fibromas account for only a very small percentage of all cardiac tumors. The occurrence and severity of symptoms caused by cardiac fibromas are primarily determined by the sites and size of lesions. Imaging techniques are very sensitive in diagnosing cardiac fibromas, defining the extent and planning surgical approach. Surgical treatment of cardiac fibromas gives excellent early and late survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although cardiac fibromas are benign, their behavior is unpredictable. Surgery appears to be the optimal treatment for patients with resectable tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Gang
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: Zhi-Yu
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Meng-Qi
authors.initials: MQ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Fa-Jin
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Lv
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005350:Fibroma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome