Cardiac Myxoma – Manifestations and Management: Kuwait Experience and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Over the past 14 years, 12 patients were diagnosed as having cardiac myxoma. All cases were sporadic, single, large, left atrial myxomas. These patients presented with nonspecific cardiac and noncardiac manifestations. The majority were misdiagnosed as valvar heart disease at initial evaluation, although echocardiography confirmed the diagnosis of myxoma in all. Prompt surgical excision of the tumor was carried out in 11 patients. Additionally, one of them underwent mitral valve repair. This patient died postoperatively due to a coronary embolism, and reoperation. One patient refused surgery. Of the 10 surviving patients who had operations, 9 remain asymptomatic and in sinus rhythm, while 1 has progressive mitral regurgitation and cardiac failure. Our experience indicates that prompt tumor excision under transesophageal echo guidance, shortly after diagnosis, yields excellent results with low morbidity and mortality.