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Updated: Mar 8, 2026

Isolation of Atrial Myocytes from Adult Mice
Published on: July 25, 2019
Extracardiac manifestations of atrial myxomas
Braghadheeswar Thyagarajan1, Monisha Priyadarshini Kumar2, Shil Patel1
1Department of Medicine, Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch, NJ, USA.
Insights
Primary cardiac tumors, such as atrial myxomas, are rare. Early diagnosis and surgical resection are key to preventing complications like obstruction and embolization, leading to a good prognosis.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Oncology
Background:
- Primary cardiac tumors are rare, accounting for only 5% of all heart tumors.
- Cardiac myxomas represent 50% of primary heart tumors, with left-sided atrial myxomas being more prevalent.
- Atrial myxomas can cause obstruction, embolization, and constitutional symptoms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the characteristics, diagnosis, and management of primary cardiac myxomas.
- To highlight the potential complications associated with atrial myxomas.
Main Methods:
- Diagnosis is typically achieved through transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Main Results:
- The most frequent complications arise from tumor obstruction and systemic or pulmonary embolization.
- Constitutional symptoms can also be present in patients with atrial myxomas.
Conclusions:
- Early diagnosis and prompt surgical resection are crucial for optimal patient outcomes.
- Surgical removal of atrial myxomas generally leads to a favorable prognosis.
Abstract:
Primary cardiac tumors are extremely rare and constitute only about 5% of all cardiac tumors. Cardiac myxomas are noncancerous primary tumors of the heart and constitute about of 50% of all primary heart tumors. Left-sided atrial myxomas are more common than right-sided atrial myxomas. Atrial myxomas can lead to a triad of complications. The most common symptoms are associated with obstruction due to the size and location of the tumor. The next most common symptoms are associated with pulmonary and systemic embolization. Patients may also present with constitutional symptoms. Diagnosis is made via means of transesophageal echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging. Early diagnosis and surgical resection remain the treatment of choice to prevent complications. Patients usually have a good prognosis after resection.
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