[The combination of atrial myxoma and multiple skin myxomas: a characteristic symptom complex?]

In 1980, a then 7-year-old boy from Yugoslavia had an atrial myxoma removed. Since then there have been no abnormal cardiac signs or symptoms. Between 1982 and 1986 five cutaneous myxomas in the trunk region were removed. None of the tumours had histological signs of malignancy. These observations can be fitted into the symptom complex (described in 1985 by Carney et al.) of cardiac myxoma, cutaneous myxoma, changes in skin pigmentation, and abnormal endocrine functions--although not all signs need be present together. A disposition towards the development of myxomatous tumours is to be assumed in these patients. One should, therefore, always suspect an occult cardiac myxoma in the presence of multiple cutaneous myxomas. Appropriate diagnostic measures need to be taken before the typical and sometimes lethal consequences of a cardiac myxoma have occurred.