Cardiac tumours have been frequently reported in patients with tuberous 
sclerosis but their incidence at different ages has been evaluated in only a few 
studies. We performed echocardiography in 47 children with tuberous sclerosis 
and found tumours in 22 (47%). In none, except one newborn, did we observe any 
clinical symptoms of heart failure. Tumours were more frequent in children below 
2 years of age (91%) than in older children. As other signs of tuberous 
sclerosis are often absent in infants, echocardiography may be regarded as the 
most useful diagnostic test at this age. Follow up studies were done in 12 
children and tumour regression occurred in 6 patients.