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Coronary angiography in atrial myxoma: findings in nine cases
G A Fueredi1, T E Knechtges, D J Czarnecki
1Department of Radiology, St. Luke's Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI 53215.
Insights
Selective coronary angiography in atrial myxoma patients revealed higher neovascularity rates than expected. Many older patients also had significant coronary artery disease requiring bypass grafting alongside myxoma resection.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Oncology
Background:
- Atrial myxomas are primary cardiac tumors.
- Coronary artery disease is a common comorbidity in older populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate coronary angiography findings in patients with atrial myxomas.
- To assess the prevalence of coronary artery disease in this patient group.
Main Methods:
- Selective coronary angiography was performed on nine patients diagnosed with atrial myxoma via echocardiography.
- Angiographic results were analyzed for neovascularity, calcification, and associated coronary artery disease.
Main Results:
- Neovascularity within the tumor was observed in 55% of patients; 33% showed tumoral calcification.
- One patient exhibited a myocardial varix at the tumor base.
- 67% of patients had significant coronary artery disease necessitating bypass grafting and myxoma resection.
Conclusions:
- The incidence of neovascularity in atrial myxomas appears higher than previously reported.
- A substantial proportion of older patients with atrial myxoma present with concurrent, operable coronary artery disease.
Abstract:
We report the findings on selective coronary angiography in nine patients with atrial myxomas. The angiograms were obtained because the patients were suspected of having coronary artery disease. In each case, the diagnosis of myxoma had been made earlier by echocardiography. Coronary angiography in five (55%) of the nine patients showed neovascularity in the tumor without calcification. In one patient, the angiogram showed a varix of the myocardium at the base of the tumor. The angiograms in three (33%) of the nine patients did not show neovascularity but showed tumoral calcification. Six (67%) of the nine patients had significant coronary artery disease that required coronary artery bypass grafting along with resection of the myxoma. These data suggest that the incidence of neovascularity in atrial myxomas is higher than previously reported. Furthermore, a significant number of this older population presented with operable artery disease as well as atrial myxoma.