Korean Circ J.  2020 Sep;50(9):822-832. 10.4070/kcj.2020.0024.

Comparison of Clinical and Echocardiographic Characteristics between Cardiac Myxomas and Masses Mimicking Myxoma

Affiliations
  • 1Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Jeonbuk National University Medical School and Research Institute of Clinical Medicine of Jeonbuk National University-Biomedical Research Institute of Jeonbuk National University Hospital, Jeonju, Korea
  • 2Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Chonnam National University Hospital, Gwangju, Korea
  • 3Department of Cardiology in Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Chungnam National University and Regional Cardiocerebrovascular Center, Chungnam National University Hospital, Daejeon, Korea
  • 4Cardiovascular Center and Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Eulji University Hospital, College of Medicine, Eulji University, Daejeon, Korea

Abstract

Background and Objectives
Cardiac myxoma is the most frequent benign cardiac tumor that can result in cardiac and systemic symptoms. We investigated clinical and echocardiographic characteristics of patients with cardiac masses suggesting myxoma.
Methods
We investigated 265 consecutive patients with an echocardiographic diagnosis of cardiac myxomas in 4 teaching hospitals in Korea.
Results
The mean age was 61±16 years and 169 patients (63.8%) were female. The most frequent referral reason for echocardiography was an evaluation of cardiac symptoms (43.4%). Tumors were incidentally detected in 82 patients (30.9%). Left atrium (LA) was the most frequently involved site (84.5%) and 19 patients (7.2%) had non-atrial tumors. The mean tumor size was 38.7×26.0 mm (range, 4–96 mm). Of 186 patients (70.2%) who had pathological diagnosis, 174 (93.5%) were confirmed with myxoma, 8 (4.3%) with other tumors and 4 (2.2%) with thrombi. Compared to myxoma, smaller size (20.4×12.6 mm vs. 41.4×27.6 mm, p<0.01) and non-LA location (87.5% vs. 10.5%, p<0.001) were associated with non-myxoma tumors, and more frequent atrial fibrillation (AF, 75.0% vs. 7.0%, p<0.001) and larger LA diameter (55.0±14.6 mm vs. 41.3±7.7 mm, p=0.001) were related to thrombi.
Conclusions
Of 265 patients with an echocardiographic diagnosis with cardiac myxomas, 174 (65.7%) were surgically confirmed with myxomas. Compared with cardiac myxoma, other tumors were smaller and more frequently found in non-atrial sites. Thrombi were associated with AF and larger LA diameter.

Keyword

Cardiac tumor; Echocardiography; Myxoma; Thrombus

Figure

  • Figure 1 A flow diagram showing the number of patients diagnosed as cardiac myxomas by transthoracic echocardiography.

  • Figure 2 Representative cases. (A) An incidentally detected a 64×49 mm sized myxoma with smooth surface in the LA in a 58-year old woman. (B) A myxoma with polypoid surface in the RA prolapsing through the TV in a 53-year old man. (C) A transesophageal echocardiographic image showing an irregular shaped myxoma measured 34×9 mm in size originating from the left upper PV in the LA cavity in a 72-year old woman with a history of AF and cerebral infarction 3 years ago. (D) An 84×67 mm-sized mass-like thrombus in the LA in a 75-year old man with a history of AF presenting with abdominal pain. (E) A 14×13 mm-sized round echogenic mass below the medial mitral annulus in the LA in a 77-year old woman presenting with chest pain diagnosed as hemangioma. (F) A 22×21 mm-sized round mass proven to be a PFE below the septal leaflet of the TV in the RA in a 72-year old woman presenting with chest pain. Arrows indicate myxomas and masses mimicking myxoma.AF = atrial fibrillation; LA = left atrium; PFE = papillary fibroelastoma; PV = pulmonary vein; RA = right atrium; TV = tricuspid valve.


Cited by  1 articles

A Comprehensive Perspective of Clinical and Echocardiographic Features in the Differential Diagnosis of Cardiac Myxomas and Myxoma-Like Masses
Dong-Soo Kim
Korean Circ J. 2020;50(9):833-835.    doi: 10.4070/kcj.2020.0309.


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