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The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation
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Left atrial appendage mass

Po F Chan1, Theodoros Kofidis2,3, Kong B Tan3,4

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.

Echocardiography (Mount Kisco, N.Y.)
|October 31, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Left atrial masses can cause embolization. A young woman

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Cardiac Surgery

Background:

  • Left atrial (LA) masses are clinically significant due to their association with peripheral embolization.
  • Accurate differentiation between thrombi and primary cardiac tumors is essential for appropriate management.

Observation:

  • A young woman presented with a left atrial mass initially diagnosed as a thrombus and treated with anticoagulation.
  • Echocardiographic review prompted re-evaluation of the initial diagnosis.

Findings:

  • The left atrial mass was revised from a thrombus to a primary cardiac tumor.
  • Surgical excision confirmed the mass as an atrial myxoma.
  • The myxoma was found in an unusual anatomical location within the atrium.

Implications:

  • This case highlights the importance of thorough echocardiographic assessment for diagnosing left atrial masses.
  • Misdiagnosis can lead to suboptimal treatment, such as anticoagulation for a tumor.
  • Recognition of atrial myxoma, even in atypical locations, is critical for surgical planning and patient outcomes.

Keywords:
atrial myxomaechocardiographyleft atrial mass

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