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First reported paediatric case of a rare cardiac tumour discovered in a 12-year-old girl

Maria Bolevich , , , 2 min read

A 12-year-old girl visits a doctor with seemingly common symptoms such as cough, abdominal pain, and dizziness. However, behind these symptoms was something far more serious, a rare primary tumor of the heart.

The case was described by Dr. Shrinivas Yuvan Shanmuga Sundaram in a case report titled “First Paediatric Case of Cardiac Composite Hemangioendothelioma,” published in 2026.

The first paediatric case of a rare vascular tumour in an extremely rare location

Heart tumors in children are extremely rare, and most of them are not malignant. Using ultrasound, doctors detected a mass in the right atrium, one of the chambers of the heart. At first, an aggressive form of cancer such as angiosarcoma or rhabdomyosarcoma was suspected. However, the final answer came only after examining the tissue under a microscope. The tumor was identified as a composite hemangioendothelioma, an extremely rare vascular tumor, particularly unusual in the heart and exceptionally rare in children.

The study: A, section shows a composite hemagioendothelioma (epithelioid and cavernous components in single lesion) B, cellular staining positive for CD 31, an endothelial cell marker.

“Primary cardiac tumours in children are exceptionally rare. Majority are benign, with only about 10% being malignant; rhabdomyosarcoma is reported to be the commonest variety. We present the first paediatric case of a rare vascular tumour in an extremely rare location (right atrium) hitherto unreported in literature.” Shrinivas Yuvan Shanmuga Sundaram et al., case report (2026)

Unlike aggressive tumors, this type usually grows more slowly and is less likely to spread to other parts of the body, which means a better prognosis. However, it can recur after treatment, so careful follow-up is necessary. The girl underwent surgery to remove the tumor, after which she began chemotherapy. So far, there are no signs that the disease has spread.

This is a reminder that even when symptoms seem harmless can sometimes point to rare and complex conditions. That is why the combination of modern imaging and precise laboratory analysis remains crucial for making an accurate diagnosis and ensuring successful treatment. “This case highlights that all paediatric tumours, however rare, must undergo all battery of investigations so that one can achieve the highest clinical outcome,” the authors concluded.

Image: Shrinivas Yuvan Shanmuga Sundaram et al., case report (2026)

Maria Bolevich

Maria Bolevich is a science, health, and environmental journalist. She collaborated with international outlets like New Scientist, Science Magazine, Nature, SciDev, Interesting Engineering. As a Maria Leptin EMBO Fellow, she spent two months at VUB in Brussels, deepening her engagement with scientific research. She completed Medical High School and graduated from the Faculty of Metallurgy and Technology, Department of Environmental Protection, giving her a unique foundation in both medicine and engineering. Maria is passionate about freedom of thought, open dialogue, and constructive criticism. A dedicated language learner and book lover, she loves Spanish and Italian, studied Greek for a year, and is now learning French while continuing to improve her language skills.