A patient with a left atrial myxoma is reported to illustrate the value of two dimensional real time echocardiography in the diagnosis of intracavitary cardiac tumours.
Left atrial myxoma almost always arises in the inter-atrial septum. A case is described where it arose from the posterior wall of the left atrium. Clinical presentation was suggestive of mitral stenosis and sub-acute bacterial endocarditis and diagnosis was arrived at necropsy.
The left atrial myxoma is important not only because of its relative frequency and diagnostic difficulty but because it can be successfully removed by surgery. However, if untreated, it invariably leads to death. We report three cases seen at the Cardiology Department, General Hospital, Kuala Lumpur in 1985.
Cardiac metastasis from a bowel malignancy seldom occurs and there is a limited number of case reports published on this subject. Although colorectal cancer is the third commonest malignancy in Malaysia, the incidence of cardiac metastasis has never been reported. We report a case of an elderly man with recently diagnosed adenocarcinoma of the sigmoid colon, who presented with congestive cardiac failure secondary to mechanical obstruction by a right atrial mass. The intractable shock led to his sudden death before any intervention could be planned. If an intra-cavity cardiac mass is detected in a patient with an underlying metastatic malignancy, cardiac metastasis should be suspected. However, primary cardiac tumour or thrombus could also be the differential diagnosis. In our case, the definitive cardiac pathology remained unsolved as an autopsy was refused.
Fifteen patients underwent surgery for cardiac tumours in General Hospital Kuala Lumpur between October 1984 and June 1989. Twelve of the patients had cardiac myxomas and underwent excision under cardiopulmonary bypass. Two patients had sarcoma, of which one was excised. The other was inoperable. Another patient had a metastalic malignant melanoma which was inoperable. Of the patients 10 were female and five male. Their ages ranged from 16 to 60 years. All were symptomatic and the commonest mode of presentation was exertional dyspnoea and palpitations. Two presented with cerebral embolisation. The three patients with malignant tumours had constitutional symptoms at the time of surgery. All patients had echocardiography pre-operatively to confirm the diagnosis of cardiac tumour. Only one patient underwent preoperative cardiac catheterisation and angiography. The surgical approach in all patients was through a median sternotomy and all except one were operated under cardiopulmonary bypass. There was no intraoperative embolisation. There was one perioperative death. Fourteen patients were followed up for periods ranging from one to 44 months. Three patients with malignant cardiac tumours died. One had recurrence of myxoma 21 months after the initial surgery. We conclude that excision of cardiac myxomas carry a very small risk following which patients have good prognosis. Malignant tumours carry a bad prognosis. From our experience, we conclude that echocardiography is an extremely accurate tool in the diagnosis of cardiac tumours.
Myxomas are uncommon primary cardiac tumours that usually affect the left atrium. We herein report the case of a patient who presented with right heart failure and proteinuria, leading to the diagnosis of atrial myxoma. Surgical resection resulted in resolution of the patient's symptoms.
An inverted left atrial appendage is a rare phenomenon post cardiac surgery. The lesion presents as an additional mass in the left atrium, which would trigger unnecessary concerns and frequently, a battery of tests. The lesion can be easily diagnosed using echocardiography. We report a case of inverted left atrial appendage in a patient post repair of common arterial trunk. Echocardiographic pictures and features which help to identify this lesion as well as to differentiate it from other possible left atrial mass are described. This article aimed to improve the awareness of sonographers toward this rare but possible post operative lesion.
Papillary fibroelastoma is a rare primary tumor of the heart valves. This lesion can occur on any of the valves or endothelial surface of the heart and has been detected by echocardiography, by cardiac catheterization, during open heart operations for other conditions, and at autopsy. Because of the potential for comorbidities, this tumor should be removed. We present the case of an elderly man with a diagnosis of severe mitral valve regurgitation and moderate tricuspid valve regurgitation who was suspected to have a tricuspid valve vegetation. Mitral valve replacement, tricuspid valve repair, and excision of the lesion were performed successfully. A histologic examination of the vegetation confirmed it to be a papillary fibroelastoma. We present this case to emphasize the rarity of this tumor and the importance of a correct diagnosis to avoid delaying its prompt and definitive management.