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Right atrial myxoma: echocardiographic appearance

Alexandros P Patrianakos1, Frangiskos I Parthenakis, Eva Nyktari

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Heraklion University Hospital, PO Box 1352 Stavrakia, Heraklion, Crete, Greece. apatrianakos@yahoo.gr

European Journal of Echocardiography : the Journal of the Working Group on Echocardiography of the European Society of Cardiology
|May 21, 2008
PubMed

Insights

A large cardiac myxoma was discovered in the right atrium of an asymptomatic patient with hypertension. Surgical excision confirmed the diagnosis, highlighting the importance of imaging in identifying cardiac tumors.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Cardiac Pathology
  • Diagnostic Imaging

Background:

  • Arterial hypertension is a common cardiovascular condition.
  • Cardiac tumors are rare, with myxomas being the most frequent primary cardiac tumor in adults.
  • Echocardiography is a key diagnostic tool for evaluating cardiac structures.

Observation:

  • A routine echocardiogram revealed a large mass in the right atrium of an asymptomatic 67-year-old male.
  • Contrast enhancement on echocardiography suggested a vascularized tumor, not a thrombus.
  • Transesophageal echocardiography precisely located the mass on the posterior right atrial wall, near the superior vena cava.

Findings:

  • The excised cardiac tumor was histopathologically confirmed as a cardiac myxoma.
  • The myxoma originated from the posterior wall of the right atrium.
  • Echocardiographic findings correlated with surgical and pathological results.

Implications:

  • This case underscores the utility of echocardiography in diagnosing cardiac myxomas, even in asymptomatic individuals.
  • Early detection and surgical resection are crucial for managing cardiac myxomas.
  • Understanding the imaging characteristics of cardiac myxomas aids in differential diagnosis and treatment planning.

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