What are childhood heart tumors?
Heart tumors (also called cardiac tumors) are rare growths that can form in any part of the heart. They can be benign (not cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Most heart tumors in children are benign. Although benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body, they may require treatment to stop them from causing problems with the heart's rhythm and blood flow. Cancerous heart tumors are very rare in children. They can spread to other parts of the body and require more intensive treatment than benign tumors.
Types of benign heart tumors that may occur in a fetus, newborn, or child include:
- Rhabdomyoma is a tumor that forms in muscle made up of long fibers.
- Myxoma is a tumor that may be part of a hereditary syndrome called Carney complex.
- Teratoma is a type of germ cell tumor. In the heart, these tumors form most often in the pericardium (the sac that covers the heart). Some teratomas are cancerous.
- Fibroma is a tumor that forms in fiber-like tissue that holds bones, muscles, and other organs in place.
- Histiocytoid cardiomyopathy tumor is a tumor that forms in the heart cells that control heart rhythm.
- Hemangioma is a tumor that forms in the cells that line blood vessels.
- Neurofibroma is a tumor that forms in the cells and tissues that cover nerves.
The most common benign heart tumors that may occur in a fetus or newborn include rhabdomyoma, myxoma, teratoma, and fibroma. Most rhabdomyomas go away on their own.
Heart tumors are rare tumors that form in the tissues of the heart, including muscle tissue, connective tissue, and tissues that line the blood vessels, control heart rhythm, and cover the nerves of the heart. They may also form in the pericardium (the sac around the heart). Most heart tumors are benign (not cancer), but some may be malignant (cancer).
Types of cancerous heart tumors that may occur in a fetus, newborn, or child include:
- Malignant teratoma is a type of germ cell tumor. In the heart, these tumors form most often in the pericardium (the sac that covers the heart). Most teratomas are not cancer.
- Primary cardiac lymphoma begins in the heart and/or pericardium (the sac that covers the heart).
- Rhabdomyosarcoma forms in muscle made up of long fibers.
- Angiosarcoma forms in cells that line blood vessels or lymph vessels.
- Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma usually forms in the soft tissue, but it may also form in bone.
- Leiomyosarcoma forms in smooth muscle cells.
- Chondrosarcoma usually forms in bone cartilage, but very rarely can begin in the heart.
- Synovial sarcoma usually forms around joints, but may very rarely form in the heart or sac around the heart.
- Infantile fibrosarcoma forms in fiber-like tissue that holds bones, muscles, and other organs in place.
Causes and risk factors for childhood heart tumors
Heart tumors in children are caused by certain changes in the way heart cells function, especially how they grow and divide into new cells. Often, the exact cause of the cell changes is unknown. Learn more about how cancer develops at What Is Cancer?
A risk factor is anything that increases the chance of getting a disease. A fetus or newborn can have a higher risk of benign heart tumors if they have a genetic condition called tuberous sclerosis. Another condition, called Carney complex, might also increase a child's risk of a type of benign heart tumor called myxoma. Not all children with these risk factors will get a benign heart tumor, and benign heart tumors may develop in some children who don't have a known risk factor. Talk with your child's doctor if you think your child may be at risk.
There are no known risk factors for cancerous heart tumors in children.
Symptoms of childhood heart tumors
Most children with a heart tumor will have some signs and symptoms that alert parents of a problem. It's important to check with your child's doctor if your child has any symptoms below:
- change in the heart's normal rhythm
- trouble breathing, especially when lying down
- pain or tightness in the middle of the chest that feels better when sitting up
- coughing
- fainting
- feeling dizzy, tired, or weak
- fast heart rate
- swelling in the legs, ankles, or abdomen
- signs of a stroke, including sudden
- numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg (especially on one side of the body)
- confusion or trouble speaking or understanding
- trouble seeing with one or both eyes
- trouble walking or feeling dizzy
- loss of balance or coordination
- severe headache for no known reason
These symptoms may be caused by problems other than a heart tumor. The only way to know is to see your child's doctor.
Tests to diagnose childhood heart tumors
If your child has symptoms that suggest a heart tumor, the doctor will need to find out the cause. The doctor will ask you when the symptoms started and how often your child has been having them. They will also ask about your child's personal and family medical history and do a physical exam. Depending on these results, they may recommend other tests. If your child is diagnosed with a heart tumor, the results of these tests will help you and your child's doctor plan treatment.
Tests and procedures used to diagnose heart tumors may include:
Echocardiogram
An echocardiogram is a procedure in which high-energy sound waves (ultrasound) are bounced off the heart and nearby tissues or organs and make echoes. A moving picture is made of the heart and heart valves as blood is pumped through the heart.
CT scan (CAT scan)
A CT scan uses a computer linked to an x-ray machine to make a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body. The pictures are taken from different angles and are used to create 3-D views of tissues and organs. A dye may be injected into a vein or swallowed to help the organs or tissues show up more clearly. This procedure is also called computed tomography, computerized tomography, or computerized axial tomography. Learn more about Computed Tomography (CT) Scans and Cancer.
Computed tomography (CT) scan. The child lies on a table that slides through the CT scanner, which takes a series of detailed x-ray pictures of areas inside the body.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
MRI uses a magnet, radio waves, and a computer to make a series of detailed pictures of areas of the body, such as the head and neck. This procedure is also called nuclear magnetic resonance imaging.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. The child lies on a table that slides into the MRI machine, which takes a series of detailed pictures of areas inside the body. The positioning of the child on the table depends on the part of the body being imaged.
Chest x-ray
An x-ray is a type of radiation that can go through the body and make pictures. A chest x-ray is one that makes pictures of the organs and bones inside the chest.
Electrocardiogram (EKG)
An EKG is a recording of the heart's electrical activity to check its rate and rhythm. Small pads (electrodes) are placed on the patient's chest, arms, and legs, and are connected by wires to the EKG machine. Heart activity is then recorded as a line graph on paper. Electrical activity that is faster or slower than normal may be a sign of heart disease or damage.
Cardiac catheterization
Cardiac catheterization is a procedure to look inside the blood vessels and heart for abnormal areas or cancer. A long, thin, catheter is inserted into an artery or vein in the groin, neck, or arm and threaded through the blood vessels to the heart. A sample of tissue may be removed using a special tool. A pathologist views the tissue under a microscope to look for cancer cells.
Getting a second opinion
You may want to get a second opinion to confirm your child's diagnosis and treatment plan. If you seek a second opinion, you will need to get medical test results and reports from the first doctor to share with the second doctor. The second doctor will review the pathology report, slides, and scans. They may agree with the first doctor, suggest changes to the treatment plan, or provide more information about your child's tumor.
To learn more about choosing a doctor and getting a second opinion, see Finding Health Care Services. You can contact NCI's Cancer Information Service via chat, email, or phone (both in English and Spanish) for help finding a doctor or hospital that can provide a second opinion. For questions you might want to ask at your child's appointments, see Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Cancer.
Who treats children with heart tumors?
A pediatric oncologist, a doctor who specializes in treating children with cancer, oversees treatment of heart tumors. The pediatric oncologist works with other health care providers who are experts in treating children with cancer and who specialize in other areas of medicine. Other specialists may include:
- pediatrician
- pediatric heart surgeon
- pediatric cardiologist
- radiation oncologist
- pathologist
- pediatric nurse specialist
- social worker
- rehabilitation specialist
- psychologist
- child-life specialist
Types of treatment for childhood heart tumors
There are different types of treatment for children and adolescents with heart tumors. You and your child's care team will work together to decide treatment. Many factors will be considered, such as your child's overall health and whether the tumor is newly diagnosed or has come back.
Your child's treatment plan will include information about the tumor, the goals of treatment, treatment options, and the possible side effects. It will be helpful to talk with your child's care team before treatment begins about what to expect. For help every step of the way, see our booklet, Children with Cancer: A Guide for Parents.
Watchful waiting
Watchful waiting is closely monitoring a child's condition without giving any treatment until signs or symptoms appear or change. This treatment may be used for rhabdomyoma (a benign tumor).
Surgery
When possible, the tumor is removed by surgery. Types of surgery that may be done include:
- Surgery to remove the tumor and some healthy tissue around it.
- Heart transplant. If the child is waiting for a donated heart, they may receive other treatment as needed.
Sometimes chemotherapy may be given before surgery to make a cancerous tumor smaller and decrease the amount of tissue that needs to be removed during surgery. This is called neoadjuvant (preoperative) therapy.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy (also called chemo) uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells. Chemotherapy either kills the cancer cells or stops them from dividing. For children with sarcoma, chemotherapy may be given alone or with other types of treatment to reduce the size of the tumor before surgery.
Learn more about Chemotherapy to Treat Cancer.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells or keep them from growing. Cancerous heart tumors are sometimes treated with external beam radiation therapy. External beam radiation therapy uses a machine outside the body to send radiation toward the area of the body with cancer. Radiation therapy may be used when the cancer cannot be removed by surgery.
Learn more about External Beam Radiation Therapy for Cancer and Radiation Therapy Side Effects.
Targeted therapy
Targeted therapy uses drugs or other substances to block the action of specific enzymes, proteins, or other molecules involved in the growth of tumor cells.
Targeted therapies used to treat benign heart tumors include:
Learn more about Targeted Therapy to Treat Cancer.
Clinical trials
A treatment clinical trial is a research study meant to help improve current treatments or obtain information on new treatments for people with cancer. Because cancer in children is rare, taking part in a clinical trial should be considered.
Use our clinical trial search to find NCI-supported cancer clinical trials that are accepting patients. You can search for trials based on the type of cancer, the age of the patient, and where the trials are being done. Some clinical trials are open only to patients who have not started treatment. Clinical trials supported by other organizations can be found on the ClinicalTrials.gov website.
Learn more at Clinical Trials Information for Patients and Caregivers.
Treatment of childhood heart tumors
Treatment of newly diagnosed childhood heart tumors may include:
- watchful waiting for children with rhabdomyoma (a benign tumor), which sometimes shrinks and goes away on its own
- targeted therapy (everolimus or sirolimus) for children with rhabdomyoma or tuberous sclerosis
- chemotherapy followed by surgery (which may include removing some or all of the tumor or a heart transplant) for children with sarcomas
- surgery to completely remove the tumor for children with other types of heart tumors
- radiation therapy for children with cancerous tumors that cannot be removed by surgery
If a cancerous tumor comes back after treatment, your child's doctor will talk with you about what to expect and possible next steps. There may be treatment options that could shrink the tumor or control its growth. If there are no treatments, your child can receive care to control symptoms from cancer so they can be as comfortable as possible.
Side effects and late effects of treatment
Treatments for heart tumors can cause side effects. Which side effects your child might have depends on the type of treatment they receive, the dose, and how their body reacts. Talk with your child's treatment team about which side effects to look for and ways to manage them.
To learn more about side effects that begin during treatment for cancer, visit Side Effects.
Problems from cancer treatment that begin 6 months or later after treatment and continue for months or years are called late effects. Late effects of cancer treatment may include:
- physical problems
- changes in mood, feelings, thinking, learning, or memory
- second cancers (new types of cancer) or other conditions
Some late effects may be treated or controlled. It is important to talk with your child's doctors about the possible late effects caused by some treatments. Learn more about Late Effects of Treatment for Childhood Cancer.
Follow-up care
As your child goes through treatment, they will have follow-up tests and check-ups. Some of the tests that were done to diagnose the tumor may be repeated to see how well the treatment is working. Decisions about whether to continue, change, or stop treatment may be based on the results of these tests.
Some of the tests will continue to be done from time to time after treatment has ended. The results of these tests can show if your child's condition has changed or if the tumor has recurred (come back).
Related resources
For more childhood cancer information and other general cancer resources, see:
About This PDQ Summary
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PDQ® Pediatric Treatment Editorial Board. PDQ Childhood Heart Tumors. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute. Updated <MM/DD/YYYY>. Available at: https://www.cancer.gov/types/cardiac/patient-child-cardiac-treatment-pdq. Accessed <MM/DD/YYYY>.
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Last Revised: 2024-04-26
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