Cardiac myxomas--surgical experience with a multi-faceted tumor

Eleven patients underwent surgery for cardiac myxomas during an 11-year period. There were 7 females and 4 males, ranging in age from 21-75 (mean 55) years. Presenting symptoms were quite variable: paroxysmal shortness of breath (5), stroke (4), peripheral emboli (2), pulmonary emboli (2), palpitations (2) and fever of unknown origin (1). Diagnosis was made by angiography in 3 cases, echocardiography in 7 and intraoperatively in 1. Seven of the tumors were in the left atrium, two in the right atrium and 2 in the left ventricle. In two patients the tumor recurred. One patient died of a recurrent diffusely invading myxoma of the left ventricle. Ten patients are alive 1-10 years postoperatively (mean 6 years).