Atrial myxoma--a case report and review of the literature

Myxomas are the most common primary cardiac tumours. They are usually benign and have variable presentation. Although rare, atrial myxomas are the most important cardiac tumours to diagnose, as they have an excellent prognosis following surgical excision. We report a 56 year old man who presented with features of both right and left heart failure. Ausculation of the heart revealed an apical mid diastolic murmur. Two-dimensional colour flow Doppler echocardiography revealed a pedunculated left atrial myxoma that prolapsed into the mitral valve orifice in diastole producing functional mitral valve stenosis. The patient underwent a successful surgical excision of the tumour. The diagnosis and management of atrial myxomas is reviewed.