Left atrial myxofibrosarcoma: Diagnostic approach through imaging techniques

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Oncology
• Radiology

Background:

• Primary cardiac sarcomas are exceptionally rare, posing significant diagnostic challenges due to nonspecific symptoms.
• Early detection and accurate characterization of cardiac masses are crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a rare case of primary cardiac sarcoma presenting as a left atrial mass.
• To emphasize the role of multimodal imaging in diagnosing cardiac tumors.

Main Methods:

• A 63-year-old female patient presented with symptoms of fatigue, palpitations, and dyspnea.
• Diagnostic workup included transthoracic echocardiography, transesophageal echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, and multidetector computed tomography.
• Surgical resection and subsequent histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis.

Main Results:

• Echocardiography revealed a left atrial mass suggestive of myxoma.
• Advanced imaging demonstrated a heterogeneous mass with atrial wall infiltration.
• Pathology confirmed the mass as myxofibrosarcoma.

Conclusions:

• Primary cardiac tumors, including sarcomas, require a high index of suspicion for diagnosis.
• Multimodal imaging is essential for characterizing cardiac masses and guiding surgical planning.
• Histopathological examination remains the gold standard for definitive diagnosis of cardiac tumors.