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Giant left atrial myxoma: case report
A Aroca1, J M Mesa, J E Centeno
1Cardiac Surgery Unit Hospital La Paz, Madrid, Spain.
Insights
A giant left atrial myxoma obstructed blood flow but caused minimal symptoms in a 40-year-old woman. Transesophageal echocardiography diagnosed the tumor, which was successfully removed, with the patient recovering well.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Oncology
Background:
- Cardiac myxomas are rare primary heart tumors, typically benign.
- Left atrial myxomas can cause significant hemodynamic compromise.
Observation:
- A 40-year-old woman presented with a giant left atrial myxoma.
- A narrow 9 mm path permitted blood flow from the left atrium to the left ventricle.
- Despite severe obstruction, the patient experienced only minimal symptoms.
Findings:
- Transesophageal echocardiography is the preferred diagnostic modality for cardiac tumors.
- Surgical resection of the giant left atrial myxoma was performed successfully.
Implications:
- Giant cardiac myxomas can be asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic.
- Early diagnosis and surgical intervention are crucial for favorable outcomes.
- This case highlights the importance of echocardiography in diagnosing cardiac masses.
Abstract:
This report describes the case of a 40 year old woman with a giant left atrial myxoma. Only a thin path of 9 mm diameter allowed blood flow through the left atrial chamber to the left ventricle. Despite this obstruction, the patient developed only minimal symptoms. Echocardiography, especially transoesophageal mode is the diagnostic procedure of choice to detect these tumours. The giant mass was successfully removed and the patient is doing well two years after surgery.