Large Cardiac Myxoma: A Case Report and a Brief Review of the Literature

Abstract

Cardiac myxomas (CM) are the most common primary cardiac neoplasms and typically present with localized structural and obstructive symptoms. The clinical presentation is nonspecific, making timely and accurate diagnosis challenging. Because myxomas can present similarly to various acquired pathologies, clinician vigilance is required to differentiate them from such entities. Cardiac myxomas are the most prevalent primary tumors of the heart, accounting for around 30–50% of benign variants and 10–20% of all cardiothoracic neoplasms. Most often, they are in the left atrium and are linked with palpitations, dyspnea, constitutional symptoms, syncope, and systemic emboli. However, given the nonspecific nature of such symptoms, in addition to the presence of benign pathologies that can cause hemodynamic obstruction, the clinical presentation of cardiac myxomas remains quite variable, with a significant number of undiagnosed cases being attributed to a low index of suspicion for primary cardiac tumors. We present a case of a 63-year-old woman who was initially diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and later correctly diagnosed with large atrial myxoma. We also review the pertinent literature on this uncommon tumor. The case emphasizes the importance of careful consideration and differential diagnosis of cardiac myxomas when patients present with related signs and symptoms that can mimic other cardiac pathologies.