Atrial Myxoma: A Rare But Treatable Cause of Breathlessness

Abstract

The primary cardiac tumors are extremely rare but among them the benign myxoma is the commonest and that usually arise in left atrium. The classic triad of clinical manifestations are due to embolism, intracardiac obstruction and mainly constitutional symptoms which are non-specific i.e. malaise, fever, anorexia, arthralgia and weight loss and thus may create a challenging diagnostic dilemma, however the size, site and mobility of tumor plays a crucial role in symptomatology. The patient had shortness of breath that closely mimicked the pre-existed COPD and systemic hypertension, however this discomfort developed within a very short span of time with the patient adopting a supine posture necessitating a2D ECHO. The ECG/ D-dimer etc. were essentially normal. These types of masses also need to be differentiated from an intramural thrombus. The cardio thoracic vascular surgeon (CTVS) after an initial work up, successfully resected the benign myxoma by median sternotomy and the patient got marked relief of her symptoms.