Incidental diagnosis of cardiac fibroma in an infant with acute viral bronchiolitis.

OBJECTIVE: Pediatric cardiac tumors are rare and, among them, 90% are benign. Cardiac fibroma is the second most frequent tumor, after rhabdomyoma. The objective of this study is to report a case of cardiac fibroma diagnosed incidentally in a patient admitted with acute viral bronchiolitis. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 5-month-old male infant was admitted to the pediatric emergency department with acute viral bronchiolitis requiring hospitalization. He presented a detectable respiratory syncytial virus in oropharyngeal swab, blood test with lymphocytosis and a chest radiography revealed cardiomegaly. Further cardiologic testing was performed detecting elevation of cardiac biomarkers, an electrocardiogram with alteration of left ventricular repolarization and echocardiogram with a heterogeneous mass in the left ventricular, with areas of calcification. A chest angiotomography suggested rhabdomyosarcoma or cardiac fibroma and a magnetic resonance showed a mass, with characteristics suggesting fibroma. The final diagnosis was made after two cardiac catheterizations for biopsy of the lesion, confirming cardiac fibroma by anatomopathological examination. Because the patient had moderate to severe systolic dysfunction, he was submitted to heart transplant. COMMENTS: One third of cardiac fibromas are asymptomatic, generally diagnosed late through tests ordered for other reasons. The gold-standard test for definitive diagnosis is biopsy. Cardiac fibroma usually does not present spontaneous regression and, in most cases, partial or total surgical resection is necessary. When tumors are unresectable, heart transplantation should be indicated. It is essential to have detailed characterization of the cardiac mass to establish the most appropriate therapeutic approach for each patient.

Incidental diagnosis of cardiac fibroma in an infant with acute viral bronchiolitis / Diagnóstico incidental de fibroma cardíaco em um lactente com bronquiolite viral aguda

ABSTRACT Objective: Pediatric cardiac tumors are rare and, among them, 90% are benign. Cardiac fibroma is the second most frequent tumor, after rhabdomyoma. The objective of this study is to report a case of cardiac fibroma diagnosed incidentally in a patient admitted with acute viral bronchiolitis. Case description: A 5-month-old male infant was admitted to the pediatric emergency department with acute viral bronchiolitis requiring hospitalization. He presented a detectable respiratory syncytial virus in oropharyngeal swab, blood test with lymphocytosis and a chest radiography revealed cardiomegaly. Further cardiologic testing was performed detecting elevation of cardiac biomarkers, an electrocardiogram with alteration of left ventricular repolarization and echocardiogram with a heterogeneous mass in the left ventricular, with areas of calcification. A chest angiotomography suggested rhabdomyosarcoma or cardiac fibroma and a magnetic resonance showed a mass, with characteristics suggesting fibroma. The final diagnosis was made after two cardiac catheterizations for biopsy of the lesion, confirming cardiac fibroma by anatomopathological examination. Because the patient had moderate to severe systolic dysfunction, he was submitted to heart transplant. Comments: One third of cardiac fibromas are asymptomatic, generally diagnosed late through tests ordered for other reasons. The gold-standard test for definitive diagnosis is biopsy. Cardiac fibroma usually does not present spontaneous regression and, in most cases, partial or total surgical resection is necessary. When tumors are unresectable, heart transplantation should be indicated. It is essential to have detailed characterization of the cardiac mass to establish the most appropriate therapeutic approach for each patient.

RESUMO Objetivo: Tumores cardíacos pediátricos são raros e, entre eles, 90% são benignos. O fibroma cardíaco é o segundo mais frequente, após o rabdomioma. O objetivo deste trabalho é relatar um caso de fibroma cardíaco, cujo diagnóstico foi incidental em um paciente internado por bronquiolite viral aguda. Descrição do caso: Lactente do sexo masculino com cinco meses foi atendido em um pronto atendimento pediátrico com quadro de bronquiolite viral aguda, necessitando de hospitalização. Em exames complementares, apresentou vírus sincicial respiratório detectável, hemograma com linfocitose, além de radiografia de tórax com cardiomegalia. Em investigação cardiológica, as enzimas cardíacas encontravam-se elevadas, o eletrocardiograma apresentava alteração de repolarização de parede lateral de ventrículo esquerdo e o ecocardiograma demonstrou massa heterogênea em ventrículo esquerdo, com áreas de calcificação. A angiotomografia de tórax sugeriu rabdomiossarcoma ou fibroma cardíaco e a ressonância magnética demonstrou massa cuja localização e características sugeriram fibroma. O diagnóstico foi conclusivo após dois cateterismos para biópsia da lesão, confirmando fibroma cardíaco pelo anatomopatológico. Em razão da disfunção sistólica moderada a grave, o paciente foi submetido a transplante cardíaco. Comentários: Um terço dos fibromas cardíacos é assintomático, geralmente diagnosticado tardiamente por meio de exames solicitados por outro motivo. O padrão-ouro para o diagnóstico definitivo é a biópsia. O fibroma cardíaco não costuma apresentar regressão espontânea, sendo submetido, na maioria dos casos, a ressecção cirúrgica parcial ou total. Nos tumores irressecáveis, o transplante cardíaco deve ser indicado. A caracterização detalhada da massa cardíaca é fundamental para traçar a conduta terapêutica mais adequada para cada paciente.