Left Atrial Myxoma: Case Report

Abstract

The presentation of cardiac tumors is rare, and cardiac myxomas (CM) are the most common; it is estimated that they account for 70% of all primary benign cardiac tumors, and of these, more than 75% of myxomas originate in the left atrium. A 40-year-old woman presented with syncope reported by a witness, followed by bradyphrenia and hypoactivity, and a weight loss of 13 kg. On admission, she reported paresis in the hands and feet of the left half of the body, mild dysarthria, and decreased left facial mimicry. Brain MRI showed multiple foci of ischemic behavior, considering thromboembolic disease. Echocardiography revealed a mass with mobile images suggestive of myxoma as the primary option, with a high probability of tumor embolism. Given these findings, referral to cardiovascular surgery was requested due to an intracardiac mass with a very high embolic risk, where histopathological study confirmed that the mass corresponded to an atrial myxoma. The
presence of intracardiac masses is rare, with a low overall prevalence. The prevalence of myxomas is 58.14% [95% CI = 51.95; 64.09%], concluding myxoma as the most common. The clinical triad it may generate consists of syncopal episodes, thromboembolisms, and constitutional symptoms. Imaging studies are the first-line approach for identification.