Conclusions
Cardiac myxomas may present with a broad range of clinical features. There is a classic triad of features that includes obstructive cardiac signs, embolic signs, and constitutional manifestations. All patients present with one or more symptoms from this triad, but diagnosis may be elusive due to the nonspecific nature of some of these features. Although myxomas are uncommon and benign, the diagnosis must be considered when signs and symptoms suggest it due to the high associated morbidity and mortality. The size, character, location, and mobility of the tumor determine the type and severity of symptoms. Echocardiography is the most important tool used to establish the diagnosis, but CT and MRI may provide additional information in some cases. Prompt surgical resection of the tumor is the appropriate treatment. The overall prognosis is excellent, but patients should be followed due to the risk of recurrence.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
St. John Sutton MG, Mercier LA, Giuliani ER, et al.:Atrial myxomas: a review of clinical experience in 40 patients.Mayo Clin Proc 1980,55:371–376.
Castells E, Ferran V, Octavio de Toledo MC, et al.:Cardiac myxomas: surgical treatment, long-term results and recurrence.J Cardiovasc Surg 1993,31:49–53.
Wold LE, Lie JT:Cardiac myxomas: a clinicopathologic profile.Am J Pathol 1980,101:219–240
McAllister HA Jr, Fenoglio JJ Jr:Tumors of the Cardiovascular System. Atlas of Tumor Pathology.2nd Series. Fascicle 15. Washington, DC: Armed Forces Institute of Pathology; 1978:1–20.
Griffiths GC:A review of primary tumors of the heart.Prog Cardiovasc Dis 1965,7:465–479.
Silverman NA:Primary cardiac tumors.Ann Surg 1980,191:127–128. 7. Bulkley BH, Hutchins GM:Atrial myxomas: a fifty year review.Am Heart J 1979, 97:639-643.
Reynen K:Frequency of primary tumors of the heart.Am J Cardiol 1996,77:107.
Lam KY, Dickens P, Chan ACL:Tumors of the heart: a 20-year experience with a review of 12,485 consecutive autopsies.Arch Pathol Lab Med 1993,117:1027.
Pinede L, Duhaut P, Loire R:Clinical presentation of left atrial cardiac myxoma. A series of 112 consecutive cases.Medicine 2001,80:159–172.
Maledzadeh S, Roberts WC:Growth rate of left atrial myxoma.Am J Cardiol 1989,64:1075–1076.
Ponchis WT, Wingo MW, Cinquegrani MP, Sagar KB:Echocardiographic demonstration of rapid growth of a left atrial myxoma.Am Heart J 1991,122:1781–1784.
Pucci A, Gagliardotto P, Zanini C, et al.:Histopathologic and clinical characterization of cardiac myxoma: review of 53 cases from a single institution.Am Heart J 2000,140:134–138.
Burke AP, Virmani R:Cardiac myxoma: a clinicopathologic study.Am J Clin Pathol 1993,100:671–680.
Reynen K:Medical progress: cardiac myxomas.N Engl J Med 1995,333:1610–1617.
Liebler GA, Magovern GJ, Park SB, et al.:Familial myxomas in four siblings.J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1976,71:605–608.
Powers JC, Falkoff M, Heinle A, et al.:Familial cardiac myxoma: emphasis on unusual clinical manifestations.J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1979,77:782–788.
Crawford FA Jr, Selby JH Jr, Watson D, Joransen J:Unusual aspects of atrial myxoma.Ann Surg 1978,188:240–244.
Carney JA, Hruska LS, Beauchamp GD, et al.:Dominant inheritance of the complex of myxomas, spotty pigmentation, and endocrine overactivity.Mayo Clin Proc 1986,61:165–172.
McCarthy PM, Piehler JM, Schaff HV, et al.:The significance of multiple, recurrent, and “complex” cardiac myxomas.J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1986,91:389–396.
Peters MN, Hall RJ, Cooley DA, et al.:The clinical syndrome of atrial myxoma.JA M A 1974,230:695–701.
Braunwald E, Zipes DP, Libby P:Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine, edn 6. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 2001.
Kaufmann G, Rutishauser W, Hegglin R:Heart sounds in atrial tumors.Am J Cardiol 1961,8:350–357.
Rosenzweig A, Harrigan P, Popvic AD:Left ventricular myxoma simulating aortic stenosis.Am Heart J 1989,117:962–963.
Kamnsky ME, Ehlers KH, Engle MA, et al.:Atrial myxoma mimicking a collagen disorder.Chest 1979,75:93–95.
Huston KA, Combs JJ Jr, Lie JT, et al.:Left atrial myxoma simulating peripheral vasculitis.Mayo Clin Proc 1978,53:752–756.
Fitzpatrick AP, Lanham JG, Doyle DV:Cardiac tumours simulating collagen vascular disease.Br Heart J 1986,55:592–595.
Engberding R, Daniel W, Erbel R, et al.:Diagnosis of heart tumour by transesophageal echocardiography: a multicentre study in 154 patients.Eur Heart J 1993,14:1223–1228.
Gross BH, Glazer GM, Francis IR:CT of intracardiac and inrapericardial masses.Am J Roentgenol 1983,140:903–907.
Araoz PA, Mulvagh SL, Tazelaar HD, et al.:CT and MRI imaging of benign primary cardiac neoplasms with echocardiographic correlation.Radiographics 2000,20:1303.
Grebenc ML, Roasado-de-Christenson ML, Green CE, et al.:Cardiac myxoma: imaging features in 83 patients.Radiographics 2002,22:673.
Cina SJ, Smialek JE, Burke AP, et al.:Primary cardiac tumors causing sudden death: a review of the literature.Am J Forensic Med Pathol 1996,17:271.
Centofanti P, Di Rosa E, Deorsola L, et al.:Primary cardiac tumors: early and late results of surgical treatment in 91 patients.Ann Thorac Surg 1999,68:1236.
Bhan A, Mehrotra R, Choudhary K, et al.:Surgical experience with intracardiac myxomas: long-term follow-up.Ann Thorac Surg 1998,66:810.
Bateman TM, Gray RJ, Raymond MJ, Chaux A, et al.:Arrhythmias and conduction disturbances following cardiac operation for the removal of left atrial myxomas.J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1983,86:601–607.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Meyer, J.E.L., O’Connor, F.G. Exertional dyspnea in a soldier. Curr Sports Med Rep 6, 77–79 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02941146
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02941146