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Updated: Jul 19, 2026
08:34
Isolation of Atrial Myocytes from Adult Mice
Published on: July 25, 2019
How fast does an atrial myxoma grow?
Eva Karlof1, Sacha P Salzberg, Anelechi C Anyanwu
1Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, New York 10029, USA.
The Annals of Thoracic Surgery
|September 26, 2006
Summary
A large cardiac myxoma was discovered in a 58-year-old man three years after coronary artery bypass grafting. The myxoma caused right-sided heart failure and was surgically removed.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiac Surgery
- Pathology
Background:
- A 58-year-old male patient underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).
- Initial transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) post-CABG was unremarkable.
- Routine transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) three years later was also normal.
Observation:
- The patient presented with dyspnea and right-sided heart failure eleven months after the last TTE.
- A subsequent TTE revealed a large mass (15 x 3 cm) in the right atrium.
- The mass was found to be attached at the junction of the inferior vena cava and coronary sinus.
Findings:
- Pathological examination confirmed the mass as a myxoma.
- The myxoma exhibited a significant growth rate, estimated at 1.36 x 0.3 cm/month.
- The tumor's size and location were consistent with the patient's symptoms of heart failure.
Implications:
- This case highlights the potential for cardiac myxomas to grow rapidly and present with severe symptoms years after cardiac procedures.
- Early detection and surgical resection are crucial for managing cardiac myxomas and preventing complications.
- The findings underscore the importance of serial cardiac imaging in patients with a history of cardiac conditions or unexplained symptoms.
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