[Intracardiac metastases of primary neuroectodermal tumor].

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Cardiac metastases from malignant tumors are rare in children and are usually found only at necropsy.

CASE REPORT:

A girl aged 6 months developed a swelling in the area of her left shoulder. Surgical excision was incomplete and pathological examination indicated neuroectodermic soft-tissue tumor. Chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin then vincristine and actinomycin D was instituted, followed by second course of cyclophosphamide-doxorubicin. Three months after cessation of chemotherapy, the child developed manifestations of congestive cardiac failure that could not be induced by anthracycline (total cumulative dose: 275 mg/m2). Cardiac ultrasonography showed a metastatic tumor (diam = 3 cm) on the wall of the right ventricle and atrium, which was pedunculated inside the infundibular chamber. It was partly excised, and the patient was treated with etoposide and carboplatin. But a second metastatic tumor formed in the paravertebral area.

CONCLUSION:

This is the first description, to our knowledge, of cardiac metastases from neuroectodermic tumor. They were diagnosed by cardiac ultrasonography, as this imaging technique differentiates this complication from the anthracycline-induced cardiomyopathy usually seen in children developing cardiac failure under chemotherapy.

• Authors: F Millot, M Lefèvre, D Blanchard, J C Roze, D Duveau, J L Harousseau
• Journal: Archives francaises de pediatrie (Arch Fr Pediatr) Vol. 49 Issue 5 Pg. 449-50 (May 1992) ISSN: 0003-9764 [Print] France
• Vernacular Title: Métastases intracardiaques d'une tumeur neuroectodermique primitive.
• PMID: 1326935 (Publication Type: Case Reports, English Abstract, Journal Article)

Topics

• Female
• Heart Neoplasms (diagnosis, secondary, surgery)
• Humans
• Infant
• Neoplasms, Nerve Tissue
• Soft Tissue Neoplasms