Delay in diagnosis of right atrial myxoma

Clinical, echocardiographic, and nuclear angiographic findings in a 51-year-old woman who presented with a history of dyspnea are discussed. Initial echocardiography revealed no abnormality. However, a subsequent radionuclide angiogram revealed a filling defect on the right side of the heart. This represented a right atrial myxoma. Radionuclide angiography can provide a useful noninvasive tool in the diagnosis of intracardiac tumors when echocardiography has not been helpful.