Left atrial myxoma associated with rheumatic mitral stenosis

The rare occurrence of mitral stenosis and coexistent left atrial myxoma is reported. The patient had a 25-year history of rheumatic heart disease and was referred for evaluation of progressive mitral stenosis without clinical suspicion of left atrial myxoma. The tumor was discovered by routine echocardiography in the course of evaluation of mitral stenosis. However, prior to surgery the patient experienced an episode of embolization of the tumor without major clinical sequelae. The utility of echocardiography in this case and in patients with mitral stenosis is discussed as well as the patient's spontaneous "cure."