What are the symptoms of a cardiac rhabdomyoma?

What are the symptoms of a cardiac rhabdomyoma?

A cardiac rhabdomyoma usually has no symptoms. But rarely, a tumor or cluster of tumors can cause problems within your child’s heart that lead to symptoms. For example, larger tumors may block blood flow or disrupt heart rhythm. If this happens during pregnancy, it can be very harmful to the fetus. It may lead to heart failure or a serious condition called hydrops.

Your healthcare provider will run imaging tests during pregnancy to check for any signs or symptoms of these problems.

Tumors that grow or don’t go away in babies and children can lead to heart failure or arrhythmia. This is rare. But your child’s doctor will keep an eye on the situation to identify any problems.

Call 911 if you notice any of these symptoms in your child:

• Change in heart rhythm.
• Fast heart rate (tachycardia).
• Trouble breathing or shortness of breath, especially when lying down (dyspnea).
• Chest pain or tightness that goes away when sitting up.
• Coughing.
• Feeling dizzy or fainting.
• Feeling tired or weak.
• Swollen legs, ankles or belly.