Copyright © 2005, The European Society of Cardiology
The protective effect of mitral stenosis on the embolization of a free-floating left atrial myxoma
a
imi
b
telanc
aDepartment of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Clinical Hospital Center Rijeka, HR 51000 Rijeka, T. Stri
i
a 3, Croatia
bDepartment of Surgery, Division of Cardiac Surgery, Clinical Hospital Center Rijeka, HR 51000 Rijeka, T. Stri
i
a 3, Croatia
cMedical School, University of Rijeka, HR 51000 Rijeka, Bra
e Branchetta 22, Croatia
Received 25 February 2005; received in revised form 19 May 2005; accepted after revision 1 June 2005.
* Corresponding author. Tel.: +385 51 218 059; fax: +385 51 218 059. interna-susak{at}kbc-rijeka.hr
| Abstract |
|---|
Mitral stenosis associated with free left atrial myxoma is very rare. A free myxoma is life-threatening when incarcerated in the mitral orifice or if embolization of the whole tumor occurs. We report a case of a female patient with moderate mitral stenosis and a detached left atrial myxoma. The myxoma was spherical, solid and smooth-surfaced. Mitral stenosis prevented the exit of the tumor from the left atrium and a possible fatal outcome. The tumor was surgically removed and mitral commissurotomy was successfully performed. Histological analysis confirmed the diagnosis of myxoma.
Keywords: Mitral stenosis; Myxoma; Left atrium