Right atrial myxoma with pulmonary embolism

Cardiology. 1994;84(4-5):368-72. doi: 10.1159/000176425.

Abstract

Right atrial myxomas are rare tumors that often go undiagnosed. Pulmonary embolism originating from the tumor mass is a potentially fatal complication. We report the case of a young man in whom a right atrial myxoma with recurrent episodes of pulmonary embolism was diagnosed 1 month after the beginning of symptoms by two-dimensional transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography. Early diagnosis of cardiac myxomas is important since surgical treatment is usually resolutive with low recurrence rates and good long-term survival.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Echocardiography, Transesophageal
  • Heart Atria / diagnostic imaging
  • Heart Neoplasms / complications
  • Heart Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Myxoma / complications
  • Myxoma / diagnostic imaging*
  • Pulmonary Embolism / etiology*
  • Recurrence