A gelatinous tumor can be seen attached by a narrow pedicle to the atrial septum. The myxoma has an irregular surface and nearly fills the left atrium. | The Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) – PEIR Digital Library (Pathology image database). #410012. Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4275138
Clinical features
Cardiac myxoma:
Dyspnea on exertion
Paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
Fever
Cachexia
Lightheadedness or syncope (Loss of consciousness)
Hemoptysis
Sudden death
Tachycardia (75 – 100 bpm)
Diagnosis
Imaging
Animated image of an MRI of the heart, showing a large myxoma plunging to and fro from atrium to ventricle across the mitral valve. | Jccmoon: CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5800661
Histopathology
High magnification micrograph of an atrial myxoma. H&E stain. | Features: Hypocellular myxoid polypoid mass with cells that are: Perivascular arrangement, Finely vacuolated eosinophilic cytoplasm, Polygonal/elongated cell shape, Mononuclear or multinucleated. May contain macrophages, other inflammatory cells. May be covered with endothelium. | Nephron – CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=8023916
