Right Atrial Myxoma Removal Followed by COVID-19 Infection and Possibly Related Late Pericardial Effusion in a...

Myxoma of the heart is the most common cardiac neoplasm in adults, typically originating in the left atrium. Despite being benign, these tumors can cause significant local mechanical disturbances and impair cardiac function. Surgical removal of the myxoma is usually necessary to prevent potentially severe complications such as embolization. Cardiac myxoma can occur sporadically or as part of a familial condition, notably inherited with autosomal dominance in the Carney complex (approximately 10% of cases). The clinical presentation of these tumors varies, ranging from asymptomatic cases found incidentally during cardiac echocardiograms performed for unrelated reasons, to severe cardiovascular events such as heart failure, stroke, pulmonary emboli, or sudden death. We describe the case of a previously healthy 31-year-old male who presented with chest pain, which was later found to be associated with a right atrial myxoma. One and a half years after successful surgical removal, he developed acute pericarditis following a bout of COVID-19, which was effectively treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and colchicine. While post-COVID-19 pericarditis is a recognized condition, we suspect that our patient was predisposed to this complication due to his previous cardiac surgery and pericardiotomy, which are well-known risk factors for pericarditis.