Key result
A rare solitary right atrial rhabdomyoma in a neonate with tuberous sclerosis complex was successfully managed with medical therapy and monitoring, demonstrating tumor regression and normal ECG at 9 months without surgical resection.
Why the study?
Fetal cardiac rhabdomyoma rarely occurs in the right atrium, making the presentation of atrial fibrillation and premature atrial contractions due to a solitary cardiac rhabdomyoma an extremely rare scenario.
Case Report (n=1)
Solitary right atrial rhabdomyomas are extremely rare but can present with arrhythmias like premature atrial contractions and can be managed medically without surgical resection.
Rare right atrial fetal rhabdomyoma may cause atrial arrhythmias; hypothesis-generating for tumor sites and fetal arrhythmia etiologies.
BACKGROUND: Despite its rare incidence of 1/40,000, fetal cardiac rhabdomyoma (CR) represents the prevailing type of benign cardiac fetal tumors, which commonly affects the ventricles. Fetal CRs rarely occur in the right atrium. Thus, the presentation of atrial fibrillation and premature atrial contractions (PAC) due to a solitary cardiac rhabdomyoma is an extremely rare scenario. Our literature review found that only 2% (1 out of 61) of rhabdomyoma cases were found in the right atrium. The majority of fetal cardiac rhabdomyomas are associated with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC). CASE PRESENTATION: A 7-day-old male neonate presented with arrhythmias and an atrial mass for further evaluation. Echocardiography revealed a hyperechoic, round, uniform right atrial mass (25 mm). An abdominal and testicular ultrasound showed multiple thin-walled cortical cysts in both kidneys and a scrotal hydrocele, respectively. His laboratory workup was insignificant except for hypomagnesemia. Electrocardiography revealed junctional rhythm and PACs with wave distortions. A brain magnetic resonance imaging scan revealed multiple subependymal lesions on the frontal and occipital horns of the lateral ventricles. These findings (Fig. 1), along with a family history of TSC, confirmed the diagnosis of TSC with associated CR. The patient was treated symptomatically with an anti-convulsant and monitored with regular follow-ups. Surgical resection was not required. CONCLUSION: Despite CR's predominance in the ventricles, a diagnosis of rhabdomyoma should be kept in mind in the presence of a solitary atrial mass and PACs. Physicians should evaluate systemic findings related to TSC and provide appropriate follow-up and family screening. Surgical resection is not always required, and symptom management can be achieved through medical treatment alone.
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Jawad et al. (2023) conducted a case report in Solitary atrial rhabdomyoma and tuberous sclerosis complex (n=1). Symptomatic medical management and monitoring was evaluated on Clinical outcome and tumor regression. A rare solitary right atrial rhabdomyoma in a neonate with tuberous sclerosis complex was successfully managed with medical therapy and monitoring, demonstrating tumor regression and normal ECG at 9 months without surgical resection.
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