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What Causes Tachycardia When Diagnosed With Cardiac Hamartoma?
Question: Hi, I am a 50 yr. old hispanic female. I've recently been experiencing tachycardia. I have had asthma since childhood, but haven't experienced any shortness of breath that I wouldn't consider normal for me. Nor have I had chest pain. I went to the Dr. who performed an Echocardiogram, EKG and PFT's. According to the results the Dr. stated he saw what appeared to be a Hamartoma on the right side of my heart. The pressures on that side of my heart were elevated. Now, I'm terrified to say the least. I'm a nurse, but haven't worked in awhile since I also have multiple sclerosis but I am XXXXXXX I honestly have never heard of a hamartoma, and I'm having difficulty finding much information about this on the internet. I guess my question is how do they remove it (open heart surgery?) Could this be something else....he did mention possibility of a blood clot although he doubts it. I go for a TEE on Monday. Any information you can give me would be wonderful. Thank you for your time.
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
Regarding your concern, I would like to explain that hamartoma may be considered a "benign tumor", caused by a localized structural tissue organization that is usually a congenital malformation, expressed by a disorganized growth of the native tissue. In your case it is supposed to be composed of myocardial cells (myocites).
It is a rare finding and is usually detected by the routine imaging test (recommended for other purposes).
You are right that the information is very scarse and there exist only some case reports related to this disorder.
I could say that the elevated pressure in your right side of the heart, revealed by your echo is not caused by the supposed hamartoma, but by a chronic pulmonary disease (asthma). You should that right heart hamartomas is usually expressed with the clinics of chest pain.
We cannot discuss on a certain treatment options such as surgery if we are not sure if we have to do really with a hamartoma and it is complicated by cardiac dysfunction, conduction disturbances, pericardial disease, etc.
So it is necessary to undergo a comprehensive differential diagnosis work out.
It may be as well a cyst,a blood clot, a mixoma, a sarkoma or any other tumors.
That is why besides TEE it is necessary to perform a cardiac MRI, CT scan and if feasible a cardiac biopsy.
If this hamartoma is confirmed and it is large enough to compromise cardiac function, cardiac surgery would be a rational treatment option.
Hope to have been helpful!
If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask whenever you need!
Greetings!
Dr. Iliri
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
Regarding your concern, I would like to explain that hamartoma may be considered a "benign tumor", caused by a localized structural tissue organization that is usually a congenital malformation, expressed by a disorganized growth of the native tissue. In your case it is supposed to be composed of myocardial cells (myocites).
It is a rare finding and is usually detected by the routine imaging test (recommended for other purposes).
You are right that the information is very scarse and there exist only some case reports related to this disorder.
I could say that the elevated pressure in your right side of the heart, revealed by your echo is not caused by the supposed hamartoma, but by a chronic pulmonary disease (asthma). You should that right heart hamartomas is usually expressed with the clinics of chest pain.
We cannot discuss on a certain treatment options such as surgery if we are not sure if we have to do really with a hamartoma and it is complicated by cardiac dysfunction, conduction disturbances, pericardial disease, etc.
So it is necessary to undergo a comprehensive differential diagnosis work out.
It may be as well a cyst,a blood clot, a mixoma, a sarkoma or any other tumors.
That is why besides TEE it is necessary to perform a cardiac MRI, CT scan and if feasible a cardiac biopsy.
If this hamartoma is confirmed and it is large enough to compromise cardiac function, cardiac surgery would be a rational treatment option.
Hope to have been helpful!
If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask whenever you need!
Greetings!
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I did forget to mention that they also found a pleural effusion around my heart. Not sure if this means anything or not related to the supposed hamartoma. Thank you so much for your help.
Brief Answer:
Explaining below:
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
A pericardial effusion may be seen when a hamartoma is present.
Nevertheless, it may be explained by other causes as well (as I explained above).
That's why a comprehensive differential diagnosis is necessary.
When you have the conclusions of your TEE and other possible tests, please upload them for a review.
Best regards,
Dr. Iliri
Explaining below:
Detailed Answer:
Hi again,
A pericardial effusion may be seen when a hamartoma is present.
Nevertheless, it may be explained by other causes as well (as I explained above).
That's why a comprehensive differential diagnosis is necessary.
When you have the conclusions of your TEE and other possible tests, please upload them for a review.
Best regards,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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