Successful excision of an atrial fibroma in a four-month-old male infant.

Overview

This report presents an infant who was initially admitted with a pericardial effusion. Subsequent evaluation led to the diagnosis of a primary cardiac tumor. Excision of the tumor which arose from the atrial septum was possible only by removing most of the free right atrial wall and a portion of the septal leaflet of the tricuspid valve. Reconstruction of the tricuspid valve leaflet by reattachment of chordae and a partial annuloplasty was done with the right atrial wall being replaced using pericardial tissue. The histology of the tumor was compatible with a fibroma, a type not previously reported in this location in the pediatric age group. Twenty-one months following operation, the child was restudied and the catheterization revealed mild to moderate tricuspid regurgitation and no recurrence of the tumor. The child is now 4 years of age and remains asymptomatic with normal growth and development and no evidence of fibromatosis.