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Cardiovasc Pathol 2019 Apr 8;41:18-20. Epub 2019 Apr 8.

Department of Pathology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA. Electronic address:

Most primary cardiac tumors are benign neoplasms, which generally can be differentiated from malignant neoplasms via certain radiological features. We present briefly a case of a 26-year-old man undergoing resection of a right atrial mass that based on preceding radiologic findings represent a myxoma. After pathologic examination, the lesion was determined to be an epithelioid angiosarcoma with unique frond-like architecture and multiple pedicular attachments to the atrial wall. Read More

Zhonghua Bing Li Xue Za Zhi 2019 Apr;48(4):293-297

Department of Pathology, Guangdong Provincial People' Hospital; Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China.

To study the clinicopathological characteristics of cardiac neoplasms. A total of 689 cases of cardiac neoplasms from January 1st 1992 to December 31th 2017 at Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital were collected. The clinical data and histologic features were analyzed along with a review of literature. Read More

J Cardiol Cases 2019 Mar 20;19(3):97-100. Epub 2018 Dec 20.

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Takamatsu Red Cross Hospital, Takamatsu, Japan.

Myxoma is the most common primary cardiac neoplasm, and causes a variety of symptoms, including hematological disorder. An 82-year-old man with anorexia was diagnosed with a gastrointestinal stromal tumor. Computed tomography and echocardiography showed a 2-cm tumor in the left atrium. Read More

Echocardiography 2019 Apr 1. Epub 2019 Apr 1.

Department of Cardiology, Kosuyolu Kartal Heart Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.

Introduction: Cardiac myxomas are the most common primary intracardiac tumors. Although myxomas are histologically benign, they are potentially dangerous due to potential risk of systemic and cerebral embolism. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential predictors of embolism in patients with left atrial myxoma. Read More

Ann Thorac Surg 2019 Mar 27. Epub 2019 Mar 27.

Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Wonkwang University School of Medicine, 895 Muwang-Ro, Iksan, Chonbuk, 54538, Republic of Korea. Electronic address:

J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2019 Mar 21. Epub 2019 Mar 21.

Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología, Juan Badiano No. 1. Col Sección XVI, Tlalpan, Mexico City, Mexico.

Purpose: Heart myxomas have been frequently considered as benign lesions associated with Carney's complex. However, after surgical removal, myxomas re-emerge causing dysfunctional heart.

Methods: To identify whether cardiac myxomas may develop a metastatic phenotype as occurs in malignant cancers, a profile of several proteins involved in malignancy such as oncogenes (c-MYC, K-RAS and H-RAS), cancer-associated metabolic transcriptional factors (HIF-1α, p53 and PPAR-γ) and epithelial-mesenchymal transition proteins (fibronectin, vimentin, β-catenin, SNAIL and MMP-9) were evaluated in seven samples from a cohort of patients with atrial and ventricular myxomas. Read More

Cureus 2019 Jan 10;11(1):e3862. Epub 2019 Jan 10.

Cardiology, University of Kentucky School of Medicine, Lexington, USA.

Myxomas, metastatic tumors, thrombi, and vegetations top the differential diagnosis list of cardiac masses. We present a case of ectopic liver tissue, a far less common etiology of a right atrial mass, discovered incidentally on transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) of a 37-year-old female with multiple comorbidities who was referred to our facility for further management of left popliteal artery occlusion and right lower extremity cellulitis. We discuss further the categories, proposed pathogenesis, diagnostic approach, and potential complications of ectopic liver tissue. Read More

Ann Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2019 Mar 19. Epub 2019 Mar 19.

Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China.

A primary cardiac tumor is a rare clinical entity which was reported an incidence of 0.03% in previous autopsy series. 75% cardiac tumors are cardiac myxoma and cardiac hemangiomas constitute only 1-2% of primary cardiac tumors. Read More

Anesthesiology 2019 Mar 15. Epub 2019 Mar 15.

From the Departments of Anesthesia and Perioperative Medicine (S.E.G., W.V.) Cardiology and Noninvasive Procedures (A.M.), Clínica Universitaria Colombia, Bogota, Colombia.

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Mar;98(11):e14866

Department of Central Laboratory, Liaocheng People's Hospital, Liaocheng, China.

Rationale: Cardiac myxoma is the most common cardiac neoplasm. Currently, there are not many reports on familial cardiac myxoma. Herein, we reported 2 first-degree relatives with left atrial myxoma. Read More

Circ Cardiovasc Imaging 2019 Mar;12(3):e008820

Department of Paediatric Cardiology and Congenital Heart Disease (S.S., S.J.M., C.P.S., C.M., P.E., O.T.), Technical University of Munich.

BMJ Case Rep 2019 Feb 25;12(2). Epub 2019 Feb 25.

Department of Cardiology, Medical College Hospital, Trivandrum, Kerala, India.

Myxoma is a common benign tumour found in the heart. On reviewing literature, we found some left atrial myxomas receive blood supply from the right coronary artery. Performing a coronary angiogram in a cardiac tumour has the following uses: (1) it shows the vascularity that can be ligated by the surgeon at operation; (2) if there is a blood supply visible, it may not be an intracardiac thrombus; (3) the coronary angiogram may detect a myxoma even before an echocardiogram does so; (4) some myxomas may bleed into the right atrium or left atrium and this may be seen on coronary angiography. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2019 Feb 22;12(2). Epub 2019 Feb 22.

Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

QJM 2019 Feb 13. Epub 2019 Feb 13.

Division of Cardiology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois.

J Cardiovasc Echogr 2018 Oct-Dec;28(4):236-238

Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy.

Papillary fibroelastoma is a rare benign cardiac tumor, second after cardiac myxoma as more frequent cardiac valvular tumor. The therapy is usually based on surgery according to size, mobility, symptoms, and risks of surgery. We report the case of a 67-year old female with transient ischemic attack. Read More

Cardiovasc J Afr 2019 Feb 6;30:1-4. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Florence Nightingale Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.

Sporadic ca rdiac myxomas rarely recur, however recurrence rates are higher in patients with a familial aggregation or Carney complex. Carney complex is characterised by multiple mucocutaneous lesions and accounts for up to two-thirds of familial cardiac myxomas. A second recurrence is very rare, even in the case of Carney complex. Read More

J Cardiothorac Surg 2019 Feb 4;14(1):30. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

Cardiac Surgery Department, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing, 100044, China.

Background: Primary cardiac sarcomas are exceedingly rare, and they commonly result in nonspecific constitutional symptoms such as shortness of breath, weight loss, and anaemia-related fatigue and malaise. However, thrombocytopenia has very rarely been reported in association with cardiac tumours, either benign or malignant. We report one case of primary cardiac synovial sarcoma continuous with the mitral valve, which was accompanied by severe thrombocytopenia, and the platelet counts returned rapidly to a normal range early after tumour excision and without any special therapies. Read More

J Cardiovasc Imaging 2019 Jan;27(1):37-47

Division of Cardiology, Hospital of the Government of the City of Buenos Aires Dr. Cosme Argerich, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Background: Cardiac myxomas are the most frequent cardiac tumors. Although histologically benign, in some cases myxomas may be lethal, due to impairment of cardiac dynamics and their thromboembolic potential. The study aimed to assess the clinical presentation of cardiac myxomas and their correlation with echocardiographic features and to describe the perioperative results and long-term outcome of surgically treated patients. Read More

Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann 2019 Jan 22:218492319827658. Epub 2019 Jan 22.

2 Damascus University Cardiac Surgery Hospital, Damascus, Syria.

Primary cardiac tumors are rare, and myxomas represent the most common type. Myxoma in a child is very rare. Herein, we present the case of a 4-year-old boy who was diagnosed with a right atrial mass two months after open-heart surgery for removal of a supra-mitral ring and repair of an interatrial septum aneurysm. Read More

Clin Imaging 2019 Mar - Apr;54:112-115. Epub 2018 Dec 10.

Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, Radiology Department, USA. Electronic address:

We present a 36-year-old man who presented to our emergency department with acute onset shortness of breath and syncope. He was found to have a large left atrial mass on initial computed tomography (CT) which was confirmed by echocardiography. Tumor biopsy and attempted excision were performed, showing a primary cardiac spindle cell sarcoma that was unable to be resected, to which the patient eventually succumbed to. Read More

J Card Surg 2019 Jan 9;34(1):14-19. Epub 2019 Jan 9.

Department of Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.

Background: We sought to analyze clinical features and surgical results of 10 cases of cardiac myxomas in Carney complex (CNC).

Methods: Between January 2003 and December 2013, 10 patients with cardiac myxomas in CNC underwent surgical resection. Associated cardiac lesions included moderate and severe mitral regurgitation in two cases, and moderate tricuspid regurgitation in one case. Read More

J Cardiothorac Surg 2018 Dec 29;13(1):133. Epub 2018 Dec 29.

Department of Cardiac Surgery, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100037, China.

Background: The totally thoracoscopic procedure for mitral valve (MV) disease is a minimally invasive method. We investigated the procedure's feasibility, safety and effectiveness when it was performed by an experienced operator.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed 53 consecutive patients with MV disease treated between December 2014 and April 2017 by minimally invasive procedures. Read More

Heart 2019 Apr 28;105(8):656-660. Epub 2018 Dec 28.

Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center, Athens, Greece.

We present the case of a 68-year-old woman, currently asymptomatic but with a history of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and tachycardia-bradycardia syndrome, for which she underwent a DDD pacemaker implantation and was started on oral anticoagulants. A recent chest X-ray (figure 1), for respiratory infection, was performed and the patient was referred to our institution for evaluation. Following diagnostic procedures, the patient was successfully operated on. Read More

J Crit Care Med (Targu Mures) 2018 Apr 1;4(2):64-67. Epub 2018 Apr 1.

Department of Internal Medicine, Mostoles University Hospital, Mostoles, Spain.

Although cardiac tumours are uncommon, cardiac myxomas account for more than fifty percent of all cases and are the most frequent primary cardiac tumour. They have a broad clinical spectrum, usually related to cardiac symptoms, peripheral embolic events or systemic manifestations. We present a case report of a 68-year-old man who presented with systemic symptoms and analytical features suggestive of an autoimmune disease. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Dec;97(51):e13451

Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.

Rationale: Left atrial myxoma is a common primary cardiac tumor, however, due to poor image quality or atypical myxoma images, it is often misdiagnosed by echocardiograph. A case of left atrial myxoma being misdiagnosed as a thrombus, which successively caused acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and stroke, is very rare. Contrast-enhanced echocardiography can play an important role in definitive diagnosis. Read More

Circ Cardiovasc Imaging 2018 Nov;11(11):e008297

Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Hospital of Cologne, Germany (K.E., T.W.).

Rev Assoc Med Bras (1992) 2018 Dec;64(12):1077-1080

Clinical Emergency Unit - InCor - HCFMUSP - São Paulo, SP, Brasil.

Objective: Cardiac myxoma is a benign neoplasm, which corresponds to the most common primary heart tumour, responsible for about 50% of the cases. In general, 75-80% of myxomas are located in the left atrium, 18% in the right atrium, and more rarely in the ventricles or multicentric. Right atrial myxoma, in particular, can obstruct the tricuspid valve, causing symptoms of right heart failure, peripheral oedema, hepatic congestion, and syncope. Read More

BMJ Case Rep 2018 Dec 13;11(1). Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Cardiology Division, Strong Memorial Hospital, Rochester, New York, USA.

A 48-year-old man presented with acute onset of left facial numbness, ataxic gait and double vision. He also complained of chronic right lower leg pain with acute onset a year prior to presentation. His vital signs were within normal limits. Read More

Ann Thorac Surg 2019 Jan 2;107(1):e15-e17. Epub 2018 Jul 2.

Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Veterans Affairs Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut; Department of Surgery, Section of Cardiac Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.

Myxoma, the most common adult primary cardiac tumor, can manifest with profound symptoms. The preferred treatment of symptomatic myxoma is surgical resection, which can be curative. Preoperatively, multimodality imaging provides crucial information on the number, size, location, and proximity of myxoma or myxomas to adjacent structures, thereby facilitating an optimal operative approach. Read More

Front Oncol 2018 21;8:540. Epub 2018 Nov 21.

Department of Coronary and Structural Heart Diseases, Institute of Cardiology, Warsaw, Poland.

A 62-years-old woman was admitted to the hospital because of chronic cough, expectoration of thick mucus, hoarseness and tightness in the precordial area. Computed Tomography (CT) examination revealed the presence of a giant intrapericardial tumor with the dimensions of 80 × 38 × 32 mm. It was located anteriorly and laterally to the left atrium, posteriorly to the pulmonary trunk and the ascending aorta. Read More

J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown) 2019 02;20(2):105-106

Department of Cardiology, Brugmann University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium.

Rom J Morphol Embryol 2018 ;59(3):903-909

Department of Internal Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, Romania;

A 46-year-old female diagnosed several years ago with arterial hypertension and an ischemic stroke with significant recovery was admitted for dyspnea on usual physical activity and fatigue. Physical examination revealed signs of heart failure with crackles on both lung bases, distented jugular veins, accentuated pulmonic valve closure (P2) and tricuspid regurgitation murmur. Echocardiography identified a large tumor in the left atrium, suggestive of atrial myxoma, which caused a severe functional mitral stenosis and produced severe pulmonary hypertension. Read More

BMC Pediatr 2018 Nov 28;18(1):373. Epub 2018 Nov 28.

Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, One Children's Place, Campus Box 8116-NWT, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.

Background: Cardiac tumors are uncommon in the pediatric population. When present, cardiac manifestations stem from the tumor causing inflow or outflow obstruction. While common in adults, cardiac myxomas presenting with generalized systemic illness or peripheral emboli especially with no cardiac or neurological symptoms are rare in children. Read More

Kardiol Pol 2018;76(11):1571

Department of Neurology, Wrocław Medical University, Borowska 213, 50-556 Wrocław, Poland.

N/A. Read More

J Nepal Health Res Counc 2018 Oct 30;16(3):257-263. Epub 2018 Oct 30.

B P Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS) Dharan-18, Sunsari, Nepal.

Background: Only few dedicated cardiac centres provide cardiac surgery service in Nepal. We are the only government affiliated centre outside the capital providing this service. In this study, we aim to present our early results of cardiac surgery. Read More

BMC Cardiovasc Disord 2018 11 7;18(1):210. Epub 2018 Nov 7.

Department of Cardiology, General Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army, 28th Fuxing Road, Beijing, 100853, China.

Background: The crista terminalis is a variation of normal anatomical structure within the right atrium which may be misdiagnosed with an abnormal atrial mass normally visualized in the standard views on the transthoracic echocardiogram.

Case Presentation: In this case presentation, we demonstrated a rare case report describing the accidental discovery of a right atrial mass-like structure in a 54-year old Asian man without physical discomfort during an echocardiographic examination. These findings naturally caused some concern as the differential diagnosis such as right atrial myxoma or thrombus and further examination were organized. Read More

Cardiol J 2018 ;25(5):652-654

Department of Cardiac Surgery, Hospital Clínico Universitario, Valladolid, Spain..

J Surg Case Rep 2018 Oct 29;2018(10):rjy288. Epub 2018 Oct 29.

Cardiovascular Centre, St Thomas' Hospital, Westminster Bridge Road, London, UK.

Cardiac tumours represent around 0.2% of tumours overall, and primary cardiac tumours are even more uncommon. We report the case of a 72-year-old female with a 7 cm × 4 cm right atrial mass which was prolapsing through the tricuspid valve. Read More

Echocardiography 2018 12 30;35(12):2106-2108. Epub 2018 Oct 30.

Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.

Left atrial (LA) masses are known to be associated with peripheral embolization. Accurate identification of etiology is crucial because treatment strategies may differ. We present the case of a young woman, who was initially diagnosed with a LA thrombus and anticoagulated. Read More

J Invasive Cardiol 2018 11;30(11):E130

Department of Cardiology, AZ Sint-Lucas, Ghent, Belgium.

A 73-year-old woman presented with exertional chest pain and mild dyspnea for several months. In this case, preoperative coronary angiography showed neovascularization originating from the right coronary artery (RCA) and left circumflex (LCX). Vascular supply in left atrial myxomas usually originates from the LCX and sometimes from the RCA, but vascular supply from both the right and left coronary arteries is rarely seen. Read More

BMJ 2018 Oct 18;363:k3883. Epub 2018 Oct 18.

Cardiology, Epsom General Hospital, Epsom, UK.

Ann Card Anaesth 2018 Oct-Dec;21(4):437-439

Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.

We are presenting a case of the right atrial myxoma found in a case of rheumatic heart disease. During transthoracic echocardiography for the evaluation of a suspected rheumatic valvular heart disease, a diagnosis of severe mitral stenosis with severe mitral regurgitation with the right atrial thrombus was made. On transesophageal echocardiography, a pedunculated mass in the right atrium was confirmed. Read More

N Engl J Med 2018 Oct;379(16):e26

Crozer-Chester Medical Center, Upland, PA

Ann Thorac Surg 2019 Apr 10;107(4):e245-e246. Epub 2018 Oct 10.

Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Foundation "I.R.C.C.S. Policlinico San Matteo," University of Pavia, School of Medicine, Pavia, Italy.

We report the case of a woman with pulmonary embolism due to a cardiac mass. Echocardiography, computed tomography scan, and cardiac magnetic resonance raised the suspicion of right atrial myxoma and confirmed the presence of pulmonary embolism. The patient was sent to the University of Pavia School of Medicine, where the atrial myxoma was excised, and, using interrupted periods of circulatory arrest, extraction of the myxoma emboli from the pulmonary arteries was performed. Read More

Heart Surg Forum 2018 Sep 25;21(5):E401-E403. Epub 2018 Sep 25.

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Biruni University Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.

Background: Primary cardiac sarcoma is a rare and atypical clinical entity. We present a patient with long-term remission after primary cardiac sarcoma resection.

Case Report: A 42-year-old previously healthy female presented to the emergency department after an effort-induced 30-minute episode of chest pain and extreme shortness of breath. Read More

Heart Surg Forum 2018 Sep 13;21(5):E370-E374. Epub 2018 Sep 13.

Cardiovascular Surgery Department, Medical Faculty, Yüzüncü Yıl University, Van, Turkey.

Objective: Although seen rarely compared to all tumors, cardiac tumors are tumors which may have a mortal course with possible complications. The most common cardiac tumor in adults is myxoma with its benign character. The results of cardiac tumors resected with open cardiac surgery in our center are reported in this study. Read More

J Card Surg 2018 Nov 10;33(11):741-743. Epub 2018 Oct 10.

Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China.

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Sep;97(39):e12546

Department of Cardiology, Maoming People's Hospital, Maoming, China.

Rationale: Syncope is a complicated clinical condition involving various diseases. Syncope due to myxoma-like right atrial thrombus is rarely seen in patient without structural heart disease.

Patient Concerns: A 61-year-old ambulant old male visited our emergency department for sudden syncope. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Sep;97(39):e12543

Department of Anesthesiology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou, China.

Rationale: Myxoma is the most common primary benign cardiac tumor, which could lead to some fatal complications because of its strategic position.

Patient Concerns: The patient was admitted to our hospital due to sudden onset of palpitation, chest tightness, mild fever, night sweats, accompanied with bilateral lower extremities adynamia, and paralysis for 5 days, but no obvious syncope and edema.

Diagnoses: Transthoracic echocardiography showed a giant mobile myxoma (72 × 58 mm) in the right atrium (RA). Read More

Ann Pediatr Cardiol 2018 Sep-Dec;11(3):318-321

Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain.

We are reporting the case of a newborn with a diagnosis of frequent supraventricular extrasystoles, up to 25% of beats at Holter monitoring, and partial response to beta-blockers. Initial echocardiographic studies were normal until the identification of a right atrial mass at 4 months of life. Given the progressive growth of the mass and the suspicion of myxoma or thrombus in the magnetic resonance study, surgical resection of the tumor was performed. Read More