Background: Cardiac myxomas are the most common benign intracardiac tumours. We studied the clinical presentation of cardiac myxomas and the morbidity, mortality and recurrence rate following surgery at our institution over a 6 year period.
Methods: This historical longitudinal study was performed at department of Cardiac Surgery, Armed forces Institute of Cardiology and National Institute of Heart Diseases Rawalpindi, Pakistan between January 2002 and March 2008 a total number of 8506 cardiac operations were performed. Of these 34 patients (19 males, 15 females) underwent complete excision of primary or recurrent intracardiac myxomas. Pre-operative diagnosis was established by echocardiography. All patients underwent operation soon after the diagnosis of a myxoma was made. Complete tumour excision followed by close inspection and copious saline irrigation of the cardiac chambers was done in each case. Of the 32 patients who survived the surgery, 29 patients were followed up at regular intervals for recurrence. The mean follow-up period was 34 months.
Results: Cardiac myxomas constituted 0.40% of the total cardiac operations at our institution. They most commonly occurred in the fourth decade. The commonest location was the left atrium (LA) (79%) followed by the right atrium (RA) (14%). Only one patient had myxoma in the right ventricle (RV). Patients with LA myxoma simulated mitral stenosis clinically whereas patients with RA and RV myxomas presented with features of right heart failure. A smaller percentage presented with embolic and constitutional symptoms. There were two early deaths. One recurrence was noted at 27 months after surgery. No late deaths were observed in the study.
Conclusion: Cardiac myxomas form a very small percentage of the cardiac cases. A high index of suspicion is essential for diagnosis. Echocardiography is the ideal diagnostic tool as also for follow-up. Immediate surgical treatment is indicated in all patients. Cardiac myxomas can be excised with a low rate of mortality and morbidity.