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Author Affiliations: Department of Cardiology (Wang YJ, Gong FQ), Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery (Zhang ZW, Gao Z), Department of Ultrasonography (Yu J), and Department of Pathology (Tang HF), Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China
Corresponding Author: Fang-Qi Gong, MD, Department of Cardiology, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 57 Zhugan Xiang, Hangzhou 310003, China (Tel: +86-571-87061007; Fax: +86-571-87033296; Email: gongfangqi@zju.edu.cn)
doi: 10.1007/s12519-012-0345-5
Background: Cardiac hemangioma is a rare cause for pericardial effusion. We present a case of hemangioendothelioma of the right atrial appendage associated with pericardial effusion in an infant.
Methods: The patient was a 49-day-old infant transferred to our department because of the presence of pericardial effusion. Two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography revealed moderate pericardial effusion and a 24 mm ¡Á 16 mm hypoechoic mass located on the right side of the right ventricular outflow tract and in front of the aorta.
Results: The infant underwent an exploratory median sternotomy. In the pericardial cavity, 120 mL transudate was observed. A 15 mm ¡Á 15 mm encapsulated mass of soft tissue was located in the pericardial cavity and involved the right atrial appendage. The tumor with right atrial appendage was completely removed. Pathological examination revealed wide sessile implant basis of the tumor into the the myocardium of the right atrial appendage, with no affection to the endocardium. Hemangioendothelioma was confirmed histopathologically. Echocardiographic examination 2 years after operation revealed that the infant was free from tumor recurrence.
Conclusions: Pericardial effusion may be caused by hemangioma of the right atrial appendage. The diagnosis of cardiac hemangioma is based on imaging examination and histopathological studies.
Key words: cardiac hemangioma; infant; pericardial effusion; right atrial appendage
World J Pediatr 2012;8(1):83-85
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