Cardiac myxoma: 40 years' experience in 63 patients

Cardiac myxomas were resected in 63 patients, including the first successful procedure in the world.

Patient data and data obtained during follow-up of the survivors were reviewed.

Preoperatively, valve obstruction occurred in 56% and emboli in 32% of the patients. The myxomas were located in the left atrium in 88%, right atrium in 10%, and both atria in 1 patient (1.6%). One patient died early, and 5 died late. The 20-year survival rate was 85%. At a median of 13 years (range, 1 month to 42 years) after resection, 26% of the survivors reported having various cardiopulmonary symptoms, 5% had had thromboembolic events, and 69% were asymptomatic. After 2 years, there was a recurrence in a young woman who had had a multifocal myxoma at the time of the primary operation. No other evidence of recurrence was found at autopsy or during repeat echocardiography in the remaining patients during an observation period of 787 patient-years.

Surgical resection of a single myxoma is a safe and effective treatment, with a low risk of recurrence. After uncomplicated resection, the frequency with which postoperative echocardiography is performed should be limited.