Primary lung sarcoma mimicking left atrial myxoma

Abstract

A case of left atrial myxoma, diagnosed on echocardiography in the emergency department, was referred for open heart surgical intervention. On reviewing chest X-ray, right lung, lower lobe whiteout was noted which instigated the need to perform a computed tomography (CT) chest. On CT chest, a heterogenously hypodense mass was seen along the posterior and inferior aspect of the right hemithorax. It had ill-defined planes with left atrium and extension into the left atrium through the right inferior pulmonary vein. On the basis of imaging, the etiology was sarcomatous/malignant vascular mass of pulmonary origin and unnecessary open-heart surgery was averted. The patient was transferred to the oncology department for further management.