[Three cases of left atrial myxoma]

Three cases of left atrial myxoma are presented. All of them were diagnosed by echocardiography, computed tomography and cardiovascular angiography. At operation, origin of the tumors were found to arise from the vicinity of the fossa ovalis in two cases and the lower atrial septum in the other. Three different operative maneuvers were used in these three cases. In the first case, the left atrium was incised and the tumor was removed submucosally. In the second case, the left and right atrium were incised and the tumor was removed with atrial septum. In the third case, only the right atrium was incised and the tumor was removed with atrial septum. In comparison of these three different maneuvers, we conclude that the second case was most appreciable, because the operator could see whole sight of the left atrial cavity and whole contour of the tumor and remove the tumor completely without destruction. All these patients have done well for periods of follow-up ranging from 10 to 37 months.