HEALTH

Heart tumors in children, the symptoms with which they present

Cardiac tumours in children are considered very rare and are benign in most cases.

Malignant cardiac tumours in children account for about 10% of cases. The most frequent tumours of this type are sarcomas, germ cell tumours and lymphomas. When it comes to malignant tumours - which are extremely rare - their growth is rapid and the prognosis is usually poor.

The symptoms of heart tumours in children can be very varied, but in some cases they may not occur at all. (Source: ospedalebambinogesu.it)

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Characteristics of pediatric cardiac tumors
Cardiac tumours in children are considered very rare and are benign in most cases. Malignant cardiac tumours in children account for about 10% of cases. The most frequent tumours of this type are sarcomas, germ cell tumours and lymphomas. When it comes to malignant tumours - which are extremely rare - their growth is rapid and the prognosis is usually poor. (Source: ospedalebambinogesu.it)
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Pediatric cardiac tumors are for the most part benign
Paediatric cardiac tumours are mostly benign. Those that occur most frequently are rhabdomatomas, fibromas, teratomas, myxomas, hemangiomas and lymphagiomas. These benign tumours are often associated with syndromes that predispose to them, such as tuberous sclerosis.
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Typical symptoms that might occur
The symptoms of heart tumours in children can be very varied, but in some cases they may not occur at all. When symptoms do occur, they may take the form of heart murmurs, arrhythmias, difficulty breathing, chest pain, bluish discolouration of the skin and mucous membranes, heart failure and pleural effusion.
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Where pediatric cardiac tumors arise
Cardiac tumours in children tend to arise mainly in the right ventricle. However, they can also arise in the left ventricle or left atrium. The clinical manifestations of the disease may differ depending on the location of the tumour mass.
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Diagnosis is a real challenge
Since the symptoms that occur are generally common to all cardiopulmonary diseases, diagnosis is a real challenge. Tumour located in the atria or near the atrio-ventricular valves, for example, can mimic valvular insufficiency. Compression of lung tissue by the tumour can generate symptoms similar to those of respiratory diseases. Tumour infiltrating the heart muscle can also cause an effusion into the pericardium with a potential risk of tamponade of the heart.
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