Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Posterior wall as atypical localization of left atrial myxoma

Diagnosis and management

Hinterwand als atypische Lokalisation eines linksatrialen Myxoms

Diagnose und Management

  • Review articles
  • Published:
Herz Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Atrial myxomas are the most common benign cardiac neoplasms. Although the majority occur in the left atrium (LA) and are attached to the interatrial septum (75–80 % of cases), they can arise from any part of the LA and the cardiac chambers. We report the case of a 65-year-old woman who presented with features of worsening dyspnea and persistent headache. During transthoracic echocardiography, a suspected cardiac myxoma was found arising from the posterior wall of the LA.

Zusammenfassung

Atriale Myxome stellen die häufigsten benignen kardialen Neoplasien dar. Obwohl die Mehrzahl der Myxome im linken Vorhof („left atrium“, LA) auftritt und dem interatrialen Septum anhaftet (75–80 % der Fälle), könnten sie an jeder Stelle des LA und den Herzkammern entstehen. Die Autoren berichten über den Fall einer 65-jährigen Frau, die sich mit Symptomen einer sich zunehmend verschlechternden Dyspnoe und persistierenden Kopfschmerzen vorstellte. Während der transthorakalen Echokardiographie (TTE) wurde der Verdacht eines kardialen Myxoms bestätigt, das an der Hinterwand des LA entstanden war.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5a,b
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Reynen K (1995) Cardiac myxomas. N Engl J Med 333(24):1610–1617

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Lam KY, Dickens P, Chan AC (1993) Tumors of the heart. A 20‑year experience with a review of 12.485 consecutive autpsies. Arch Pathol Lab Med 117:1027–1031

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Pucci A, Gagliardotto P, Zanini C et al (2000) Histopathologic and clinical characterization of cardiac myxoma: review of 53 cases from a single institution. Am Heart J 140:134–138

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Castillo JG, Silvay G (2010) Characterization and management of cardiac tumors. Semin Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth 14:6–20

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Swartz MF, Lutz CJ, Chandan VS et al (2006) Atrial myxomas: pathologic types, tumor location, and presenting symptoms. J Card Surg 21:435–440

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Sarjeant JM, Butany Cusimano JRJ (2003) Cancer of the heart: epidemiology and management of primary tumors and metastases. Am J Cardiovasc Drugs 3:407–421

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Chakfè N, Kretz JG, Valentin P et al (1997) Clinical presentation and treatment options for mitral valve myxoma. Ann Thorac Surg. doi:10.1016/s0003-4975(97)00695-4

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Bleasel NR, Stapleton KM (1999) Carney complex: in a patient with multiple blue naevi and lentigines, suspect cardiac myxoma. Australas J Dermatol 40:158–160

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Chen MY, Wang JH, Chao SF et al (2003) Cardiac myxoma originating from the anterior mitral leaflet. Jpn Heart J 44:429–434. doi:10.1536/jhj.44.429

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Malergue MC, Laurenceau JL, Dumesnil JG, Desaulniers D (1977) Left atrial myxoma: a surgical emergency. Apropos of 2 cases. Arch Mal Coeur Vaiss 70(1):93–97

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Scheld HH, Nestle HW, Kling D, Stertmann WA et al (1988) Resection of a heart tumor using autotransplantation. Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 36(1):40–43

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Takazawa K, Fuse K, Konishi T, Watanabe Y, Konishi H (1992) Cryosurgery for left atrial myxoma with coronary artery bypass grafting. Kyobu Geka 45(11):1021–1023

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Meyns B, Vancleemput J, Flameng W, Daenen W (1993) Surgery of cardiac myxoma. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 7:437–440

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Tsukamoto S, Shiono M, Orime Y et al (1998) Left atrial myxoma with an atrial septal defect: a case report and review of the literature. Ann Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 4(3):133–137

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Tsukamoto S, Shiono M, Orime Y (1999) Surgical treatment of 22 cardiac myxomas: A review. Ann Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 5(3):146–149

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Toda R, Moriyama Y, Shiota K, Toyohira H, Taira A (1999) Myxoma of mitral valve associated with infective endocarditis. Jpn J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 47(6):285–287

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Centofanti P, Patanè F, Barbato L (1999) Left atrial approach to big myxoma with angiographically visible neovascularity. Report of one case. J Cardiovasc Surg (Torino) 40(3):391–393

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Lobo A, Lewis JF, Conti CR (2000) Intracardiac masses detected by echocardiography: case presentations and review of the literature. Clin Cardiol 23(9):702–708

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Delange Segura L (2005) Limitations of transesophageal ultrasound in the assessment of intracardiac masses: a case report. Rev Esp Anestesiol Reanim 52(7):421–424

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Bernstein JM, Leasure W, Buel A (2007) Getting to the heart of the matter. Skinmed 6(6):290–292

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Turhan S, Tulunay C, Altin T, Dincer I (2008) Second recurrence of familial cardiac myxomas in atypical locations. Can J Cardiol 24(9):715–716

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Scheffel H, Baumueller S, Stolzmann P et al (2009) Atrial myxomas and thrombi: comparison of imaging features on CT. AJR Am J Roentgenol 192(3):639–645. doi:10.2214/AJR.08.1694

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Garatti A, Nano G, Canziani A et al (2012) Surgical excision of cardiac myxomas: twenty years experience at single institution. Ann Thorac Surg 93:825–831

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Iltumur K, Demir T, Ariturk Z et al (2015) Simultaneous occurrence of a large asymptomatic prolapsing left atrial myxoma with a cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. Heart Surg Forum 18(1):E25–E27. doi:10.1532/hsf.1223

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Lin J, Xiao J, Chen J et al (2016) Treating cardiac myxomas: a 16-year Chinese single-center study. J Cardiovasc Med 17(1):44–53. doi:10.2459/JCM.0000000000000114

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Mackie BD, Shirazi F, Swadley MJ et al (2014) Catastrophic systemic embolization from a left atrial myxoma. Tex Heart Inst J 41(1):64–66

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  27. Sieswerda GT, Kamp O, Visser CA (2000) Myocardial contrast echocardiography: clinical benefit and practical issues. Echocardiography 17:S25–S36

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Lindner JR (2002) Assessment of myocardial viability with myocardial contrast echocardiography. Echocardiography 19:417–425

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Kirkpatrick JN, Wong T, Bednarz JE, Spencer KT, Sugeng L, Ward RP, DeCara JM, Weinert L, Krausz T, Lang RM (2004) Differential diagnosis of cardiac masses using contrast echocardiographic perfusion imaging. J Am Coll Cardiol 43(8):1412–1419

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardiovascular Science, Cardiac Surgery Unit and Heart Transplantation Center, S. Camillo-Forlanini Hospital, Circonvallazione Gianicolense 87, 00149, Rome, Italy

    M. Cottini MD, A. Pergolini, P. G. Pino, V. Polizzi, F. Ranocchi, G. Luzi, A. Montalto & F. Musumeci

  2. Department of Heart and Vessels, Cardiac Unit, Belcolle Hospital, 01100, Viterbo, Italy

    G. Zampi

  3. Department of Cardiovascular Science, Radiology Unit, S. Camillo-Forlanini Hospital, Rome, Italy

    V. Buffa

Authors
  1. M. Cottini MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. Pergolini
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. G. Zampi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. V. Buffa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. P. G. Pino
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. V. Polizzi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. F. Ranocchi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. G. Luzi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. A. Montalto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. F. Musumeci
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Consortia

FECTS

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Cottini MD.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

M. Cottini, A. Pergolini, G. Zampi, V. Buffa, P.G. Pino, V. Polizzi, F. Ranocchi, G. Luzi, A. Montalto, and F. Musumeci state that they have no competing interests.

This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

Caption Electronic Supplementary Material

Movie Clip 1: A standard transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was promptly performed showing a large irregular mass in the left atrium (LA), causing a moderate functional mitral stenosis

Movie Clip 2: A standard transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) was promptly performed showing a large irregular mass in the left atrium (LA), causing a moderate functional mitral stenosis

Movie Clip 3: Real-time three-dimensional (3D) TEE using the en face surgical view from the LA demonstrated that the myxoma was located near to the posterior mitral annulus

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Cottini, M., Pergolini, A., Zampi, G. et al. Posterior wall as atypical localization of left atrial myxoma. Herz 42, 390–394 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00059-016-4480-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00059-016-4480-y

Keywords

Schlüsselwörter

Search

Navigation