Varied Manifestations of Left Atrial Myxoma and the Relationship of Echocardiographic Patterns to Tumor Size

Abstract

Four cases of left atrial myxoma with varied clinical manifestations were diagnosed with echocardiographic studies prior to cardiac catheterization and surgery. The unusual clinical features include Raynaud's phenomenon and intermittent claudication. The echocardiographic features of the atrial myxoma appear to be related to tumor size. Systematic echocardiographic evaluation of patients with mitral valvular disease and systemic and cerebral vascular insufficiency will undoubtedly increase the positive diagnostic results in patients with atrial myxomas. Removal of these tumors results in normalization of the echocardiographic pattern.