Cystic tumour of the atrioventricular nodal region is a very rare
tumour
A neoplasm () is a type of abnormal and excessive growth of tissue (biology), tissue. The process that occurs to form or produce a neoplasm is called neoplasia. The growth of a neoplasm is uncoordinated with that of the normal surrounding tiss ...
of the
heart
The heart is a muscular Organ (biology), organ found in humans and other animals. This organ pumps blood through the blood vessels. The heart and blood vessels together make the circulatory system. The pumped blood carries oxygen and nutrie ...
in the region of the
atrioventricular node
The atrioventricular node (AV node, or Aschoff-Tawara node) electrically connects the heart's atria and ventricles to coordinate beating in the top of the heart; it is part of the electrical conduction system of the heart. The AV node lies at the ...
. It is also known as ''
mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that develops from the thin layer of tissue that covers many of the internal organs (known as the mesothelium). The area most commonly affected is the lining of the lungs and chest wall. Less commonly the lini ...
of the atrioventricular node''.
Presentation
It may present as a
cardiac arrhythmia
Arrhythmias, also known as cardiac arrhythmias, are irregularities in the heartbeat, including when it is too fast or too slow. Essentially, this is anything but normal sinus rhythm. A resting heart rate that is too fast – above 100 beat ...
or as
sudden cardiac death
Cardiac arrest (also known as sudden cardiac arrest ''SCA is when the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. When the heart stops beating, blood cannot properly circulate around the body and the blood flow to the brain and other org ...
.
Pathology
Cystic tumours of the atrioventricular nodal region, true to their name, have cystic spaces, which are lined by a single layer of
histomorphologically benign
epithelial
Epithelium or epithelial tissue is a thin, continuous, protective layer of cells with little extracellular matrix. An example is the epidermis, the outermost layer of the skin. Epithelial ( mesothelial) tissues line the outer surfaces of man ...
cells. The appearance is similar to that of
lymphangioma
Lymphatic malformations are benign slow-flow type of vascular malformation of the lymphatic system characterized by lymphatic vessels which do not connect to the normal lymphatic circulation. The term ''lymphangioma'' is outdated and newer rese ...
and this is a name that has been used for this tumour.
[
]
Treatment
The treatment of cystic tumours of the atrioventricular nodal region is surgical excision.
See also
* Atrial myxoma
A myxoma is a rare benign tumor of the heart. Myxomata are the most common primary cardiac tumor in adults, and are most commonly found within the left atrium near the valve of the fossa ovalis. Myxoma may also develop in the other heart chambers. ...
* Papillary fibroelastoma
A papillary fibroelastoma is a primary tumor of the heart that typically involves one of the heart valves. Papillary fibroelastomas, while considered uncommon, make up about 10 percent of all primary tumors of the heart. They are the third most c ...
References
{{Heart neoplasia
Heart neoplasia