Isolated right atrial metastasis of malignant melanoma mimicking a myxoma

Hellenic J Cardiol. 2011 May-Jun;52(3):281-4.

Abstract

Malignant melanoma is the malignancy with the highest propensity for cardiac metastasis. Metastasis to the heart usually occurs in the setting of disseminated disease and is therefore commonly associated with a poor prognosis. We report the case of a 51-year-old woman with a previous history of cutaneous malignant melanoma who presented with a symptomatic, isolated right atrial metastasis attached via a narrow stalk to the interatrial septum, thus resembling a myxoma. The lesion was completely resected, rendering the patient symptom and, potentially, disease-free. The case illustrates the importance of cardiac evaluation in the management of patients with melanoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Echocardiography, Transesophageal
  • Female
  • Heart Atria / pathology
  • Heart Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Heart Neoplasms / surgery
  • Humans
  • Melanoma / secondary*
  • Melanoma / surgery
  • Middle Aged
  • Myxoma / diagnosis*
  • Skin Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Skin Neoplasms / surgery