title: Pediatric cardiac tumors: a 45-year, single-institution review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardiac tumors in children are rare. Of the cases reported in the literature, nearly all are benign and managed conservatively.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective, observational study of pediatric patients <18 years who presented for surgical evaluation of a cardiac tumor, between 1969 and 2014 at a tertiary care children's hospital. Presentation, pathology, management, and outcomes were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over the last 45 years, 64 patients were evaluated for surgical resection of a cardiac tumor. Rhabdomyoma was the most common neoplasm (58%), and 17% of the tumors had malignant pathologies. While 42% of benign cardiac neoplasms required surgical intervention for significant hemodynamic concerns, 73% of malignant neoplasms underwent radical excision, if possible, followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. Despite a 37% mortality in patients with malignant pathology, an aggressive surgical approach can yield long-term survival in some patients. There were no deaths among patients with benign tumors and 17% had postoperative complications mostly related to mitral regurgitation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cardiac tumors in children are rare but can be managed aggressively with good outcomes. Benign tumors have an excellent survival with most complications related to tumor location. Malignant tumors have a high mortality rate, but surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy allow for prolonged survival in selected patients.
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Linnemeier
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors: Brian D
authors: BD
authors: Benneyworth
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Turrentine
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
authors: Mark
authors: M
authors: Rodefeld
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA jobrown@iupui.edu.
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Brown
mesh_terms: D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005350:Fibroma / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007889:Leiomyoma / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D009232:Myxoma / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012207:Rhabdomyoma / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery; D013724:Teratoma / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery
keywords: cardiac tumors; congenital heart disease; congenital heart surgery; outcomes; pediatric