Atrial Myxoma

Definition

Definition of Atrial Myxoma
An atrial myxoma is a noncancerous tumor in the upper left or right side of the heart. It grows on the wall (atrial septum) that separates the two sides of the heart.

Symptoms

Symptoms of Atrial Myxoma
Symptoms may occur at any time, but most often they accompany a change of body position. Symptoms may include:

1. Breathing difficulty when lying flat
2. Breathing difficulty when asleep
3. Chest pain or tightness
4. Dizziness
5. Fainting
6. Sensation of feeling your heart beat (palpitations)
7. Shortness of breath with activity

Causes

Causes of Atrial Myxoma
A myxoma is a primary heart (cardiac) tumor. This means that the tumor started within the heart. Most heart tumors start somewhere else.

Primary cardiac tumors are rare. Myxomas are the most common type of these rare tumors. About 75% of myxomas occur in the left atrium of the heart, usually beginning in the wall that divides the two upper chambers of the heart. The rest are in the right atrium. Right atrial myxomas are sometimes associated with tricuspid stenosis and atrial fibrillation.

Myxomas are more common in women. About 10% of myxomas are passed down through families (inherited). Such tumors are called familial myxomas. They tend to occur in more than one part of the heart at a time, and often cause symptoms at a younger age than other myxomas.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of Atrial Myxoma
The health care provider will listen to the heart with stethoscope. A "tumor plop" (a sound related to movement of the tumor), abnormal heart sounds, or murmur may be heard. These sounds may change when the patient changes position.

Right atrial myxomas rarely produce symptoms until they have grown to be at least 13 cm (about 5 inches) wide.

Imaging tests may include:

1. Chest x-ray
2. CT scan of chest
3. ECG
4. Echocardiogram
5. Doppler study
6. Heart MRI
7. Left heart angiography
8. Right heart angiography

Treatment

Treatment of Atrial Myxoma
The tumor must be surgically removed. Some patients will also need their mitral valve replaced. This can be done during the same surgery.

Prognosis

Prognosis of Atrial Myxoma
Although a myxoma is not cancer, complications are common. Untreated, a myxoma can lead to an embolism (tumor cells breaking off and traveling with the bloodstream), which can block blood flow or cause the myxoma to grow in another part of the body. Myxoma fragments can move to the brain, eye, or limbs.

Prevention

Prevention of Atrial Myxoma
There is no known prevention.