Successful treatment of a primary cardiac leiomyosarcoma with ifosfamide and etoposide.

PURPOSE: Primary cardiac leiomyosarcoma is a rare malignant tumor in childhood. Patients with unresectable or partially resected cardiac leiomyosarcoma typically have a poor prognosis. The role of chemotherapy in the treatment of these patients has not been well defined.

PATIENT AND METHODS: A 6-week-old infant with an incompletely resected cardiac leiomyosarcoma was treated postoperatively with ifosfamide and etoposide.

RESULTS: The patient is disease-free and without apparent late effects 5 years following the completion of therapy.

CONCLUSION: The combination of ifosfamide and etoposide warrants further evaluation in patients with leiomyosarcoma.