Cyanosis caused by a huge obstructive right ventricular fibroma

Cardiac fibromas are ran lesions which occur more often in infants and chil dren than in adults. These tumors are benign proliferations of connective t issue most often found in the left ventricular myocardium or septum. In an 8-month-old infant with cyanosis and progressive exertional dyspnea, a huge cardiac tumor obstructing the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) was d iagnosed by means of 2-dimensional echocardiography and cardiac catheteriza tion. At surgery, a whitish gray solitary tumor measuring 5.0 x 4.5 cm coul d be well visualized. It was nearly totally resected. and the RVOT was reco nstructed with an Equine pericardial patch. Histologic examination classifi ed the tumor as a fibroma. Although surgical mortality in cardiac fibroma w ith RVOT obstruction is extremely high, early diagnosis and prompt excision of the tumor is mandatory in relieving its dangerous symptoms.