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[A case of familial cardiac myxoma]
1Division of Surgery, Cardiovascular Center, Mitsui Memorial Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
Insights
Familial cardiac myxoma, a rare heart tumor occurring in families, can manifest as "complex" type myxoma. Early identification is crucial due to higher recurrence rates compared to sporadic cases.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Genetics
- Oncology
Background:
- Cardiac myxomas are typically benign tumors, but familial cases suggest a genetic predisposition.
- Cerebral embolism is a known complication of left atrial myxomas.
Observation:
- A case of familial cardiac myxoma in a mother and daughter presenting with cerebral embolism.
- Surgical removal of multiple left atrial myxomas in both patients.
- Successful outcomes with no recurrence observed for 14 and 11 years, respectively.
Findings:
- Familial cardiac myxoma cases should raise suspicion for the
- complex
- type.
- Complex
- type myxomas exhibit different biologic behavior and higher recurrence rates than sporadic types.
Implications:
- Distinguishing between familial and sporadic cardiac myxoma is vital for patient management.
- Understanding the genetic basis of familial cardiac myxoma may lead to improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
- Further research into the specific characteristics and management of
- complex
- type myxomas is warranted.
Abstract:
We experienced a case of familial cardiac myxoma observed in a mother and her daughter. A 58-year-old woman was addmited to our hospital because of repeated cerebral embolism. Echocardiography showed a left atrial myxoma to be considered as the cause of cerebral embolism. At the operation, 3 myxomas were found in the left atrium, and were removed successfully. No recurrence has been observed for 14 years after the operation. Three years after that, her 3rd child, 31-year-old-women, suffered from cerebral embolism and was also diagnosed as a left atrial myxoma. A friable myxoma was removed with the interatrial septum. She had no recurrence for 11 years after the operation. In patients with cardiac myxoma who have unusual biologic behavior, including familial myxoma, "complex" type myxoma must be suspected. We suggest that it is important to distinguish patients with "complex" type myxoma, because the recurrence rate is much higher in those than in patients with "sporadic" type myxoma.