Cystic tumour of the atrioventricular nodal region is a very rare
tumour
A neoplasm () is a type of abnormal and excessive growth of 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 tissue, and persists ...
of the
heart
The heart is a muscular Organ (biology), organ in most animals. This organ pumps blood through the blood vessels of the circulatory system. The pumped blood carries oxygen and nutrients to the body, while carrying metabolic waste such as ca ...
in the region of the
atrioventricular node
The atrioventricular node or AV 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 lower back section of t ...
. 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 most common area affected is the lining of the lungs and chest wall. Less commonly the lining ...
of the atrioventricular node''.
Presentation
It may present as a
cardiac arrhythmia
Arrhythmias, also known as cardiac arrhythmias, heart arrhythmias, or dysrhythmias, are irregularities in the heartbeat, including when it is too fast or too slow. A resting heart rate that is too fast – above 100 beats per minute in adult ...
or as
sudden cardiac death
Cardiac arrest is when the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. It is a medical emergency that, without immediate medical intervention, will result in sudden cardiac death within minutes. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and possib ...
.
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 one of the four basic types of animal tissue, along with connective tissue, muscle tissue and nervous tissue. It is a thin, continuous, protective layer of compactly packed cells with a little intercellu ...
cells. The appearance is similar to that of
lymphangioma
Lymphangiomas are malformations of the lymphatic system characterized by lesions that are thin-walled cysts; these cysts can be macroscopic, as in a cystic hygroma, or microscopic. The lymphatic system is the network of vessels responsible fo ...
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. Myxomata may also develop in the other heart chambe ...
* Papillary fibroelastoma
A papillary fibroelastoma is a primary tumor of the heart that typically involves one of the valves of the heart. Papillary fibroelastomas, while considered uncommon, make up about 10 percent of all primary tumors of the heart. They are the third ...
References
{{Heart neoplasia
Heart neoplasia