What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Case Report. Population: Fetal cardiac rhabdomyoma (n=2). Intervention: Fetal cardiac rhabdomyoma. Primary outcome: Clinical outcome.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To describe two prenatally diagnosed cases of fetal cardiac rhabdomyoma exhibiting contrasting postnatal outcomes and outline multidisciplinary management strategies.

August 23, 2026Radiology Case ReportsOpen Access

Fetal cardiac rhabdomyoma: Two prenatally diagnosed cases with contrasting outcomes

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

Fetal cardiac rhabdomyoma exhibits a highly variable clinical course, ranging from spontaneous regression to severe obstruction requiring surgical resection, necessitating individualized management. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

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Key result

Fetal cardiac rhabdomyomas show divergent outcomes ranging from spontaneous regression to surgical resection.

Key Points

To describe two prenatally diagnosed cases of fetal cardiac rhabdomyoma exhibiting contrasting postnatal outcomes and outline multidisciplinary management strategies.
Evaluated two primigravidas presenting with fetal intracardiac echogenic masses diagnosed via ultrasound at 32 weeks and 22 weeks of gestation.
Conducted postnatal assessments including serial echocardiography, neonatal neurological evaluation, brain MRI, dermatological exams, and genetic testing.
Case 1 presented with a 22 mm polylobulated left ventricular lesion prolapsing through the mitral valve, causing severe hemodynamic obstruction that required surgical resection at 15 days of life.
Case 2 was managed conservatively after detection at 22 weeks, with postnatal echocardiography confirming spontaneous regression of the multiple cardiac masses.
Initial postnatal assessments in both cases showed no immediate diagnostic evidence of tuberous sclerosis complex.

Study Design

Type

Case Report (n=2)

Structured PICO

Population

2 male fetuses prenatally diagnosed with multiple cardiac rhabdomyomas, followed postnatally to assess clinical outcomes and tuberous sclerosis complex association.

Exposure

Surgical resection (Case 1) and conservative management (Case 2)

Outcome

Postnatal clinical outcome (need for surgery vs. spontaneous regression)

Fetal cardiac rhabdomyoma has a variable clinical course ranging from spontaneous regression to severe obstruction requiring surgical resection, necessitating individualized risk-stratified management and long-term surveillance for tuberous sclerosis complex.

Limitations

Small number of cases (n=2)
Lack of histopathological confirmation in Case 2
Limited postnatal echocardiographic documentation
Genetic testing for TSC1 and TSC2 was performed only in Case 2
Follow-up period was relatively short
Small number of cases (n=2) restricts generalizability and precludes statistical inference
Histopathological confirmation was not available for Case 2
Complete postnatal echocardiographic documentation was limited
Follow-up period was relatively short in both cases

Implication

Supports individualized postnatal surveillance in fetal rhabdomyoma; leaves open predictors of regression versus obstruction.

Abstract

Fetal cardiac rhabdomyoma is the most frequent primary cardiac tumor diagnosed in utero and carries a strong association with tuberous sclerosis complex. We present 2 prenatally diagnosed cases with contrasting postnatal outcomes. In the first case, a 28-year-old primigravida was diagnosed at 32 weeks with multiple intracardiac echogenic masses; the largest, a 22 mm polylobulated left ventricular lesion prolapsing through the mitral valve, caused hemodynamically significant obstruction requiring surgical resection at 15 days of life. In the second case, a 25-year-old primigravida with multiple masses detected at 22 weeks was followed conservatively; postnatal echocardiography demonstrated spontaneous regression with a favorable outcome. In both cases, initial neurological, imaging, dermatological, and genetic evaluations did not reveal evidence of tuberous sclerosis complex at the time of assessment. These cases illustrate the variable clinical course of fetal cardiac rhabdomyoma and underscore the importance of risk-stratified echocardiographic monitoring, individualized multidisciplinary management, and long-term surveillance for tuberous sclerosis complex regardless of initial evaluation results.

Discussion

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Published by Radiology Case Reports · CC BY-NC-ND

Cite This Study

Ghades et al. (2026) conducted a case report in Fetal cardiac rhabdomyoma (n=2). Fetal cardiac rhabdomyoma was evaluated on Clinical outcome. Fetal cardiac rhabdomyoma demonstrated a variable clinical course, with one case requiring surgical resection for a 22 mm obstructive mass and the other showing spontaneous regression.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a8aade47677a34114446626 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radcr.2026.07.079

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Implication

Supports individualized postnatal surveillance in fetal rhabdomyoma; leaves open predictors of regression versus obstruction.

Fetal cardiac rhabdomyoma: Two prenatally diagnosed cases with contrasting outcomes

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Limitations

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Figures from the paper

Cite This Study

Fetal cardiac rhabdomyoma: Two prenatally diagnosed cases with contrasting outcomes

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Limitations

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Figures from the paper

Cite This Study

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