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Updated: May 3, 2026

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance for the Evaluation of Suspected Cardiac Thrombus: Conventional and Emerging Techniques
Published on: June 11, 2019
The left atrial "Medusa myxoma"
Elbert E Williams1, Jerry W Pratt2, David E Martin2
1Michigan State University College of Human Medicine - Kalamazoo Campus, Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Cardiac myxomas are rare primary heart tumors. This case highlights a unique "Medusa myxoma," an arborizing left atrial tumor requiring prompt surgical removal to prevent serious complications.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Oncology
Background:
- Myxomas represent 30-50% of primary cardiac tumors but are rare, with an incidence of 0.5 per million annually.
- Atrial myxomas can present with diverse symptoms and clinical outcomes.
Observation:
- This report details a unique case of a left atrial myxoma, termed the "Medusa myxoma."
- The tumor exhibited an arborizing, four-fingered morphology extending from the fossa ovalis across the left atrium.
Findings:
- The
- Medusa myxoma
- is a rare variant of a primary cardiac tumor.
Implications:
- Prompt surgical excision is crucial for atrial myxomas to mitigate risks of obstruction and embolization.
- This case underscores the importance of recognizing diverse presentations of cardiac myxomas for timely intervention.
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