[Atrial myxoma. Clinical, diagnostic, surgical and pathological features of 13 subjects (author's transl)]

The clinical, surgical and pathological features of 13 patients (3 males, 10 females) with cardiac myxoma are reported. Eleven masses were situated in the left atrium and 2 in the right one. The incidence of signs and symptoms usually ascribed to cardiac myxoma is evaluated. Particular emphasis is given to embolization phenomenon which occurred in 3 patients with villous-surfaced tumors. The results of phonocardiographic, echocardiographic and isotopic angioscintigraphic examination are illustrated and the use of these incruent investigations is highly recommanded. Final diagnosis may be achieved by cardiac catheterization and angiocardiography. Successful surgical excision was carried out in 12 patients. Structural profile of atrial myxoma is discussed. Particular attention is given to the surface of the tumors (smooth or villous), to the pseudovascular structures on the light microscopy and to the endotelial like features, together with secretory activity of the myxoma cells, on the electron microscopy. The morphologic findings support the neoplastic origin of the myxoma. The distinction between embolization and malignant metastasis is underlined.