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Published on: February 28, 2018

Atrial myxoma: case report and a review of the literature

Robert Lee Percell1, Robert J Henning, Maqsood Siddique Patel

  • 1Departments of Medicine, University of South Florida College of Medicine and the James A Haley VA Hospital, Tampa, FL 33612, USA.

Heart Disease (Hagerstown, Md.)
|June 5, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Atrial myxomas, common heart tumors, can cause serious health issues through embolism or obstruction. Early screening and surgical removal are key, with familial screening crucial for recurrence prevention.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Atrial myxomas represent the most frequent primary benign cardiac tumor, affecting up to 3 in 1000 individuals.
  • These tumors are a significant contributor to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
  • While typically found in the left atrium, familial syndromes can lead to multiple myxomas in unusual locations.

Observation:

  • Approximately 50% of patients present with symptoms from embolism or intracardiac obstruction.
  • A notable 10% of patients with atrial myxomas remain asymptomatic.
  • Screening protocols include comprehensive history, physical examination, and echocardiography (transthoracic and transesophageal).

Findings:

  • Transthoracic echocardiography demonstrates ~95% sensitivity for detecting cardiac myxomas.
  • Transesophageal echocardiography offers near 100% sensitivity in myxoma detection.
  • While most atrial myxomas are sporadic, familial cases necessitate screening of first-degree relatives for occult tumors.

Implications:

  • Surgical excision is the primary curative treatment for atrial myxomas.
  • Recurrence is a possibility, particularly in patients with underlying familial myxoma syndromes.
  • Proactive screening, especially in at-risk families, is vital for managing atrial myxoma complications and recurrence.

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