Left atrial high-grade rhabdomyosarcoma; an unusual location

Abstract

A 63-year-old diabetic and hypertensive lady presented in New York Heart Association class III–IV dyspnea on exertion. Echocardiography showed a large mass attached to the anterior mitral leaflet and the base of the interatrial septum. After removal of the mass and excision of the anterior and posterior mitral leaflets, a bioprosthetic valve was deployed. The postoperative course was uneventful. Histopathology showed that the tumor was a high-grade rhabdomyosarcoma. Although it is a highly lethal tumor, surgical removal was indicated to relieve dyspnea, clarify the diagnosis, and improve short-term survival. Our patient survived for 8 months after surgical excision.

Primary cardiac rhabdomyosarcoma in a mitral valve involved with rheumatic disease

“…Primary rhabdomyosarcomas of the heart are very rare, and more so when they are isolated to heart valves. 1 These lesions are associated with an overall poor prognosis, but surgical resection may occasionally be indicated. 2 We report here the case of a patient with primary cardiac rhabdomyosarcoma in a rheumatic mitral valve who required emergency surgery.…”