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J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2007;134:526-527
© 2007 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery

Brief Communication

Biatrial myxoma: An exceptional case in cardiac surgery

Elvyra Voluckiene, MD, PhD^_*, Gediminas Norknas, MD, PhD, Gintaras Kalinauskas, MD, PhD, Giedre Nogiene, PhD, Sigita Aidietiene, MD, PhD, Giedrius Udavinys, MD, PhD, Vytautas Sirvydis, MD, PhD

Heart Clinic, Vilnius University, Vilnius, Lithuania.

Received for publication February 19, 2007; accepted for publication March 8, 2007.

^_* Address for reprints: Elvyra Voluckiene, MD, PhD, Vilnius University Hospital Santariskiu Clinics, Santariskiu 2, LT-08661 Vilnius, Lithuania. (Email: elvyra.voluckiene{at}santa.lt).

Cardiac myxomas are benign intracavitary neoplasms. Their incidence in cardiac surgery is approximately 0.3%.^1,2 Biatrial myxomas are extremely rare. We review our experience with the successful management of a large biatrial myxoma in a middle-aged woman. This particular case is especially interesting because both stalks originated from opposite sides at the same point of the atrial septum, and it is possible that the myxomas grew evenly, one in the right atrium and the other in the left. Therefore one can say that they are myxoma twins.

Clinical Summary

A previously healthy 63-year-old woman was referred to the cardiac surgery center after transthoracic echocardiography showed large tumor masses in the left and right atria (Figure 1). They were freely mobile and prolapsed through the mitral and tricuspid valves into the left and right ventricles during diastole. The mean mitral valve gradient was 18 mm Hg, and the mean tricuspid valve gradient was 10 mm Hg. This woman had a history of progressively worsening exertional dyspnea lasting 6 months. Also, she had episodes of arterial hypertension. The patient’s family members, consisting of father, mother, and one brother, had no history of intracardiac tumors.

View larger version (39K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 1. Two-dimensional echocardiographic 4-chamber view.

When a longitudinal right atriotomy was performed, we found an elastic mass in the right atrium with a short stalk attached to the interatrial septum, close to the fossa ovalis (Figure 2, A). The interatrial septum was incised, and from the opposite side, it was found that both stalks had grown together. On closer inspection, one could surmise that they had developed from a single point. A resection of the right stalk was made along with the entire zone of attachment, and the right myxoma was removed (Figure 2, B). The mass from the left atrium was then completely removed through the excising part at the atrial septum. The septal incision defect (45 mm in diameter) was then closed with a polytetrafluoroethylene patch,_^* and closure of the right atriotomy was achieved (Figure 2, D). After measurement, it was observed that the left atrial myxoma had a diameter of 70 x 60 mm, and the right atrial myxoma had a diameter of 68 x 58 mm (Figure 2, C). Histologic examination revealed myxoma with no signs of malignancy. The patient’s postoperative course was uncomplicated.

View larger version (106K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 2. Intraoperative images. A, longitudinal right atriotomy; B, after the right myxoma was removed; C, excised biatrial myxomas; D, closure of atrial septal defect.

Cardiac myxoma is an intracavitary, round or ovoid neoplasm that is attached to the endocardium. Although the vast majority attach at the fossa ovalis of the interatrial septum, they can arise from any endocardial surface. The majority (60% to 88%) occur in the left atrium, with a smaller proportion in the right atrium (4% to 28%) and in rare cases in left ventricular (8%), right ventricular (2.5% to 6.1%), biatrial (<2.5%), or multiple locations (2.5%).^1-5

The exact incidence in Lithuania is not known, but these tumors cause 0.47% of all cardiac operations performed at our cardiac surgery center, and this particular incidence of biatrial myxoma was the first such from 99 total cardiac myxoma cases.

For the above-described patient, the diagnosis was clearly and precisely established by using 2-dimensional echocardiographic examination. The same diagnosis was confirmed on the basis of magnetic imaging examination and findings during the operation.

Footnotes

^_* Gore-Tex patch, registered trademark of W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc, Newark, Del.

References

1. Keeling IM, Oberwalder P, Anelei-Monti M, Schuchlenz H, Demel U, Tilz GP, et al. Cardiac myxomas: 24 years of experience in 49 patients. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2002;22:971-977.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
   
2. Bhan A, Mehrotra R, Choudhary SK, Sharma R, Prabhakar D, Airan B, et al. Surgical experience with intracardiac myxomas: long-term follow-up. Ann Thorac Surg 1998;66:810-813.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
   
3. Grebenc ML, Rosado-de-Christenson ML, Green CE, Burke AP, Galvin JR. Cardiac myxoma: imaging features in 83 patients. Radiographics 2002;22:673-689.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
   
4. Bjessmo S, Ivert T. Cardiac myxoma: 40 years experience in 63 patients. Ann Thorac Surg 1997;63:697-700.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
   
5. Selkane Ch, Amahzoune B, Chavanis N, Raisky O, Robin J, Ninet J, et al. Changing management of cardiac myxoma based on a series of 40 cases with long-term follow-up. Ann Thorac Surg 2003;76:1935-1938.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
   

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This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Author home page(s): Gintaras Kalinauskas Giedrius Uzdavinys Vytautas Sirvydis Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Voluckiene, E. Articles by Sirvydis, V. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Voluckiene, E. Articles by Sirvydis, V.