Atypical Presentation of a Right Atrial Myxoma: A Case Report

Abstract

Abstract BACKGROUND Primary cardiac tumors are rare, with a reported incidence of approximately 0.02% and atrial myxomas account for approximately 15-20% of the cases. Most of these are located in the left atrium and unusually involve the right side of the heart. CASE PRESENTATION We present a case of a 52-year-old man who presented with chest pain, initially presumed to be acute coronary syndrome, and found to have a right atrial tumor of 6.3 cm, with a hospital course complicated by neurologic symptoms. Definite treatment included surgical removal. Pathology analysis of the mass confirmed the histology of myxoma. CONCLUSIONS Differential diagnoses for atrial myxomas include thrombus and other tumors such as rhabdomyomas. Clinical manifestations include fatigue, peripheral edema, ascites, and diastolic murmur similar to tricuspid stenosis. More than half of these tumors rise in the left atrium and may be complicated by neurologic symptoms secondary to embolization. Right atrial myxomas are rare and described in the literature with a myriad of symptoms, while in some cases, asymptomatic. Given the low incidence and variety in clinical picture, careful documentation of these cases is suggested for early prevention and guideline of management.