Surgery for Primary Cardiac Tumors in Children Early and Late Results in a Multicenter European Congenital Heart Surgeons Association Study

Background-To evaluate indications and results of surgery for primary cardiac tumors in children. Methods and Results-Eighty-nine patients aged Conclusions-Surgery for primary cardiac tumors in children has good early and long-term outcomes, with low recurrence rate. Rhabdomyomas are the most frequent surgical histotypes. Malignant tumors negatively affect early and late survival. Heart transplant is indicated when conservative surgery is not feasible. Lack of recurrence after partial resection of benign cardiac tumors indicates that a less risky tumor debulking is effective for a subset of histotypes such as rhabdomyomas and fibromas. (Circulation. 2012; 126: 22-30.