Left atrial myxoma: pulmonary infarction caused by pulmonary venous occlusion

Atrial myxomas are the most common primary cardiac tumors. Typical complications include congestive heart failure, systemic emboli, or vasculitic type syndromes. Presented is a case of postpartum congestive heart failure in a 17-year-old girl. Echocardiography revealed a left atrial mass. Intraoperatively this mass was found to be extending into and occluding the left pulmonary veins. Left pulmonary infarction had occurred, and left pneumonectomy was required to completely remove the lesion. This case thus represents an unusual complication of left atrial myxoma.