Atrial and Myxomas: Symptoms, Tests, Treatment

Author: Thomas C. Weiss
Published: 2015/06/09 - Updated: 2021/08/16
Topic: Cancer and Tumors - Publications List

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main

Synopsis: Information regarding types of myxomas, a primary heart tumor, including symptoms and treatments. Primary cardiac tumors are rare. Myxomas are the most common type of these rare tumors. Approximately 75% of myxomas happen in the left atrium of a person's heart, commonly starting in the wall that divides the two upper chambers of the heart.

Introduction

An atrial myxoma is a noncancerous tumor in the upper right or left side of a person's heart. The tumor grows on the wall that separates the two sides of the heart. The wall is called the, 'atrial septum.' A, 'myxoma,' is a primary heart tumor. What this means is that the tumor began within the person's heart. The majority of heart tumors begin somewhere else.

Main Item

Primary cardiac tumors are rare. Myxomas are the most common type of these rare tumors. Approximately 75% of myxomas happen in the left atrium of a person's heart, commonly starting in the wall that divides the two upper chambers of the heart. The rest are in the right atrium. Right atrial myxomas are at times associated with atrial fibrillation and tricuspid stenosis.

Myxomas are more commonly experienced by women. Around 1 in 10 myxomas are passed down through families. These tumors are called, 'familial myxomas.' They tend to happen in more than one part of the person's heart at a time and often cause symptoms while a person is still younger.

Myxoma Symptoms

The symptoms of a myxoma can happen at any time, although they most often occur when a person changes the position of their body. The symptoms associated with myxomas are many. These symptoms can include the following:

• Fainting
• Dizziness
• Heart palpitations
• Chest tightness or pain
• Breathing difficulty when sleeping
• Breathing difficulty while lying flat
• Shortness of breath while pursuing physical activity

The symptoms and signs of left atrial myxomas often times mimic mitral stenosis. Right atrial myxomas rarely produce symptoms until they have grown to be at least five inches wide. Additional symptoms of myxomas may include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Malaise
• Joint pain
• Raynaud's phenomenon
• Unexpected weight loss
• Swelling of any part of the body
• Fingers that change color with pressure
• Curvature of nails accompanied with soft tissue swelling of the fingers

Myxoma Tests and Signs

A doctor or a nurse will perform a physical examination and listen to the person's heart using a stethoscope. A murmur or abnormal heart sounds may be detected. The sounds might change when the person changes the position of their body. A doctor may also order some different imaging tests, which could include:

• ECG
• Heart MRI
• Chest X-ray
• Doppler study
• Echocardiogram
• CT scan of the chest
• Left heart angiography
• Right heart angiography

A doctor may also order some different blood tests. These tests may include a complete blood count, erythrocyte sediment rate, or white blood cell count.

Myxoma Radiographic Features

A doctor may examine an affected person using different types of Radiographic tests. The tests may include plain film and/or an MRI scan among others. What follows are descriptions of these tests.

• Plain Film: A person with a myxoma might have chest X-rays that appear, 'normal.' Abnormalities; if they are present, are non-specific and might include left atrial enlargement, intracardiac tumoral calcification, evidence of mitral valve obstruction, or evidence of elevated left atrial pressure.
• Echocardiography: Echocardiography is usually the first modality used for identification and evaluation of cardiac myxomas. They appear as hyperechogenic lesions with a well-defined stalk. Echocardiography may be useful in assessing the mobility of the person's tumor because it often protrudes through valve flaps.
• MRI Scan: MRI appearances are heterogeneous, reflecting the non-uniformity of these masses. They are usually avoid or spherical masses that might be pedunculated or sessile.
• T1: Tend to be low to intermediate signal, yet areas of haemorrhage could be high.
• T2: May be variable due to heterogeneity in tumor components such as calcific components.
• Gradient Echo: Gradient echo may show blooming of calcific components.
• T1 C+: Shows enhancement, an important discriminator from a thrombus.

Myxomas, as with other forms of cardiac tumors, appear in intra-cardiac masses, most often in the person's left atrium and attached to the interatrial septum. The tumors are usually heterogeneously low attenuating. Due to repeated episodes of haemorrhage, dystophic calcification is common. If the mass is pedunculated, the motion within the person's heart can be demonstrated, to include prolapse through the mitral valve.

Treating Myxomas

Treatment for a myxoma requires surgery in order to remove the tumor. Some people will also need their mitral valve replaced. Mitral valve replacement can be done during the same surgery to remove the person's tumor. Complete resection is usually curative with recurrence rates, either locally or elsewhere in the person's heart, reported in 1-3% of instances. An atypical instances the rate is higher at 12-22%. Myxomas may return if surgery failed to remove all of the tumor cells.

Myxoma Prognosis

While a myxoma is not cancer, complications commonly occur. Left untreated, a myxoma might lead to an embolism or tumor cells breaking off and traveling through the person's bloodstream, which may block the flow of blood or cause the tumor to grow in another part of the person's body. Pieces of the tumor can move to the person's eye, brain, or their limbs. If the tumor grows inside the person's heart, it may block the flow of blood. The result might be emergency surgery to prevent the sudden death of the person.

Some different complications are associated with myxomas. These complications may include arrhythmias, pulmonary edema, spread of the tumor, peripheral emboli, or blockage of the person's mitral heart valve.

Author Credentials: Thomas C. Weiss is a researcher and editor for Disabled World. Thomas attended college and university courses earning a Masters, Bachelors and two Associate degrees, as well as pursing Disability Studies. As a CNA Thomas has providing care for people with all forms of disabilities. Explore Thomas' complete biography for comprehensive insights into his background, expertise, and accomplishments.