[Myxoma of the left atrium. General considerations and description of a case]

A case of left atrial myxoma is described. The neoplasia was observed in a female with no previous rheumatic history in whom cardiopathy was diagnosed only a few months before hospitalisation. The rapid and erratic course of the cardiopathy, the fact that changes of posture modified objective symptoms, the presence of dyspnoea and peripheral microembolisms were all clinical indicators of a possible myxoma, later confirmed by echography and cardiac catheterism. The anatomical and functional characteristics of myxomas are also discussed.