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Familial atrial myxoma
1Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.
Insights
Rare familial atrial myxomas, including biatrial and left atrial types, were identified in a parent and child. Echocardiography proved effective for diagnosis, surgical planning, and family screening for cardiac myxoma.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Genetics
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Familial cardiac myxomas are uncommon, with limited documentation of biatrial involvement.
- Atrial myxomas are typically benign tumors of the heart, but can have genetic predispositions.
Observation:
- A rare case of familial atrial myxoma involving a parent with biatrial myxoma and a child with a left atrial myxoma is presented.
- The familial occurrence suggests a potential genetic link in the development of cardiac myxomas.
Findings:
- Preoperative diagnosis of atrial myxomas was accurately achieved using echocardiography in both parent and child.
- Surgical excision of the myxomas was successful in both affected individuals.
Implications:
- Echocardiography is a valuable tool for diagnosing cardiac myxomas, assessing recurrence, and screening at-risk family members.
- This case highlights the importance of considering familial inheritance patterns in the diagnosis and management of atrial myxomas.
Abstract:
Familial and biatrial myxomas of the heart have rarely been described. We describe a familial atrial myxoma involving a parent with biatrial and a child with a left atrial myxoma. Atrial myxomas were diagnosed preoperatively by echocardiography and successfully removed at operation. Echocardiography can be used in the diagnosis of cardiac myxoma, detection of its possible recurrence and for screening other members of the family.