Left atrial myxoma causing fluttering of the anterior mitral leaflet

This report describes the M-mode echocardiographic features of a left atrial myxoma, before and after excision of the tumor. Preoperative M-mode echocardiogram demonstrated fine diastolic fluttering of the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve which disappeared after surgery. Preoperative aortography and minutious examination of the aortic valve during operation excluded any associated lesion of the aortic valve. The fluttering of the anterior mitral valve is probably related to turbulent blood flow around the tumor prolapsing between mitral leaflets during diastole.