Molecular Basis of Cardiac Myxomas

Abstract

Cardiac tumors are rare, and of these, primary cardiac tumors are even rarer. Metastatic cardiac tumors are about 100 times more common than the primary tumors. About 90% of primary cardiac tumors are benign, and of these the most common are cardiac myxomas. Approximately 12% of primary cardiac tumors are completely asymptomatic while others present with one or more signs and symptoms of the classical triad of hemodynamic changes due to intracardiac obstruction, embolism and nonspecific constitutional symptoms. Echocardiography is highly sensitive and specific in detecting cardiac tumors. Other helpful investigations are chest X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging and computerized tomography scan. Surgical excision is the treatment of choice for primary cardiac tumors and is usually associated with a good prognosis. This review article will focus on the general features of benign cardiac tumors with an emphasis on cardiac myxomas and their molecular basis.

Clinical Features and Surgical Results of Right Atrial Myxoma

“…Myxoma arising from the right atrium constitutes 10–20% of cases. Commonly, these myxomas arise from the atrial septum, rarely, they originate from the other parts of the right atrium. In our study, 46.23% of the right atrial myxomas arise from the atrial septum,25% near the vena cava, 10.71% near or at the coronary sinus, 10.71% near or at tricuspid annulus, and 7.14% from the right atrial free wall.…”

Innate and Adaptive Immunity Linked to Recognition of Antigens Shared by Neural Crest-Derived Tumors

“…CMs express many markers common in neural crest such as calretinin, Sox or S100 and PGP 9.5. Its EMT is characterized by increase expression of N cadherin and Notch [107]. Some cardiac myxomas are characterized by Il-6 secretion corresponding to a clinical syndrome like Castleman disease.…”

Child Neurology: Arterial ischemic stroke in a 12-year-old patient with cardiac myxomas

“…4 The majority of cardiac myxomas are sporadic; however, a familial pattern has been described in Carney complex, which is an autosomal-dominant syndrome with cardiac myxomas, extracardiac myxomas, cutaneous pigmentation, endocrine abnormalities, and other tumors, and accounts for about 5%-10% of cardiac myxomas. 4,5 The histologic origin of these tumors is uncertain; however, they are thought to develop from multipotent mesenchymal stem cells. Macroscopically, myxomatous tissue is gelatinous and may have a polypoid or papillary appearance.…”