Cardiac Myxoma- A Study of 10 Cases

Abstract

BACKGROUND Myxoma is the most common primary tumour of the heart in adults with age range of 30 to 60 years. About 90% of them are situated in left atrium. Here we present a study of 10 cases of cardiac myxomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective analysis of 10 cases of cardiac myxomas received in Department of Pathology, Government Medical College, Miraj between December 2007 to November 2016 was done. All the surgical specimens were fixed in 10% formalin. After fixation, gross examination was done which included size, shape, color, consistency and cut surface. The gross histopathological tissue sampling was done as per the standard procedures. After routine tissue processing the slides were stained with haematoxylin and eosin. RESULTS On gross examination all the specimens were received in multiple pieces of varying sizes. The external surface of all pieces were smooth and whitish. Cut surface of all specimens were gelatinous and few showed dark brown areas. Microscopy of all the cases showed similar histomorphological features. Sections showed a well circumscribed tumour composed of oval to spindle or stellate shaped (myxoma) cells having bland vesicular nuclei and eosinophilic cytoplasm arranged singly as well as in syncytium, cords, solid clusters and at places forming rings in close association with the blood vessels. The cells were set in abundant myxoid and hyalinised stroma. Some sections showed extensive areas of haemorrhage, focal areas of fibrosis, focal dense infiltration by mononuclear cells, polymorphs and haemosiderophages. CONCLUSION Myxoma is the most common cardiac tumour with left atrium being the commonest site.