[Giant left atrial myxoma presenting as acute myocardial infarction]

Abstract

Myxomas are the most common type of benign cardiac tumor. The most frequent clinical presentations are symptoms resulting from atrioventricular valve obstruction or systemic embolization. Coronary embolization is a rare, although real and potentially fatal, complication of cardiac myxomas. We present a case report and review of the literature on this disease association. A 57-year-old woman was admitted to our coronary care unit with a diagnosis of non-ST elevation acute myocardial infarction. Transthoracic echocardiography showed a large left atrial mass attached to the interatrial septum, coral-like and with a friable appearance, suggestive of myxoma. Coronary angiography revealed no significant lesions and the patient underwent surgical excision of the mass, which histological study showed to be compatible with myxoma. The postoperative period was uneventful and the patient is doing well, with no recurrence of myxoma.