Intractable ventricular tachycardia secondary to cardiac hemangioma

Cardiac tumors are rare and have a known association with ventricular dysrhythmias, especially ventricular tachycardia. We report a case of intractable ventricular tachycardia in a middle-aged man developing on a background of known, presumed benign, cardiac neoplasm. The ventricular tachycardia was controlled with long-term medical therapy. Surgical resection of the cardiac mass combined with cryoablation cured the dysrhythmia. Appearances at histopathology were those of a benign intracardiac hemangioma. Surgical treatment has an important but forgotten role in the management of ventricular arrhythmias, which is more definitive and carries a higher success rate compared with medical management. © 2010 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.