Ventricular repolarization abnormalities: the electrocardiographic track of cardiac tumoural involvement in an infant with tuberous sclerosis complex. A case report

BACKGROUND: Primary cardiac tumours are rare in children. Against this backdrop, Doppler echocardiogram is the main diagnostic procedure, while electrocardiogram (ECG) usually plays a secondary role, by detecting tumoural consequences as cardiac arrhythmias and chambers overload. We describe a case where an electrocardiographic sign was the cornerstone to diagnosis and surveillance of an infant with a cardiac rhabdomyoma. CASE SUMMARY: A female infant was referred for cardiac evaluation to elucidate an electrocardiographic abnormality, detected during investigation of seizures. She had recently been diagnosed with epilepsy and was under three different anticonvulsants for appropriate control. Cardiovascular symptoms were absent. Skin inspection revealed hypochromic macules. Respiratory and cardiovascular examinations were normal, as well as laboratorial tests and chest radiography. Electrocardiogram (ECG) showed dome-shaped ST-segment elevation in V2 and V3. Transthoracic echocardiogram unveiled a single hyper-echogenic node (0.4 cm(2)) in the interventricular septum. Cardiac chambers had normal size and function and Doppler analysis was also normal. No specific medication was used to treat the tumour. During follow-up, she remained free of cardiac symptoms. Eighteen months after her first visit to the cardiologist, routine clinical assessment, ECG, and transthoracic Doppler echocardiogram normal results stated the spontaneous and complete involution of the tumoural lesion. DISCUSSION: Convex ST-segment elevation, generally related to myocardial injury, is unusual in paediatric patients. Once it occurs in asymptomatic individuals within this age bracket, exclusion of cardiac tumours is mandatory. However, data regarding the accuracy of such electrocardiographic marker in this clinical setting are still to be defined.