Left atrial myxoma as the cause of syncope in an adolescent

Arq Bras Cardiol. 2003 Aug;81(2):206-9, 202-5. doi: 10.1590/s0066-782x2003001000009. Epub 2003 Sep 16.
[Article in English, Portuguese]

Abstract

A case of left atrial myxoma is reported in a 14-year-old female patient with recurrent episodes of syncope. The patient was immediately referred to the cardiologist after an inconclusive neurological investigation. Syncope is a symptom thoroughly described as being associated with heart myxomas, but its specific association with adolescence is extremely rare. The authors discuss the clinical manifestations of the disease, emphasizing the diagnostic difficulties on the basis of the unspecific symptoms. As part of the analysis a Brazilian literature review was carried out. Also, the authors experience in the surgical treatment of the heart tumors is briefly presented.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Female
  • Heart Atria / surgery
  • Heart Neoplasms / complications*
  • Heart Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Heart Neoplasms / surgery
  • Humans
  • Myxoma / complications*
  • Myxoma / diagnosis
  • Myxoma / surgery
  • Syncope / etiology*