Cardiac Tumors

Abstract

Primary pediatric cardiac tumors are rare, with a reported incidence of less than 0.1%. Historically, cardiac tumors have been defined by histological features. More recently, noninvasive imaging, particularly cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), has become the primary diagnostic modality for anatomic and tissue characterization. The majority of pediatric cardiac tumors are benign and do not need surgical intervention. However, even histologically, benign tumors can become problematic due to their size and location. Benign cardiac tumors causing inflow or outflow obstruction or compression of cardiac structures often require surgical removal. Additionally, benign cardiac tumors can lead to arrhythmias requiring ablation. Using image guidance for transcatheter or even open-ablation techniques may lead to improved results. While malignant primary cardiac tumors are rarer than their benign counterparts, they should always be considered for surgical removal given the 1-year survival rate of ~10% without resection. Cardiac tumors are often complex 3-dimensional (3D) structures within or around the heart. Using 3D printing in procedural planning can be a valuable tool to improve targeted approaches and ultimately outcomes.