Cardiac myxoma – two clinical cases with a different presentation

Abstract

Primary cardiac tumors are rare and most frequently benign. The most common primary cardiac tumors are myxomas. Early clinical symptoms can resemble different cardiovascular and systemic diseases. The heterogeneity in their presentation is due to the different localization of myxomas and different structural characteristics. In most cases an echocardiographic examination is sufficient to establish the diagnosis. Early diagnosis and referral for surgery can prevent debilitating complications. The definitive treatment is surgical extirpation of the tumor. We present two clinical cases of cardiac myxomas, the first of which was localized in the left atrium and had villous characteristics, presenting mainly with embolic events. In the second case, the tumor formation was in the right atrium, solid in nature, causing angina and dyspnea.