A 64 year-old woman without history of cardiovascular diseases and without cardiovascular risk factors was referred to our hospital because of acute heart failure. A real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (3D) revealed left atrium tumor causing mitral valve obstruction. 3D characteristics of the tumor were highly suggestive of cardiac myxoma. Surgical excision was successfully performed and myxoma was confirmed histologically. Although cardiac myxoma typically presents a silent heart failure, our case suggests that it should be even considered a cause of acute heart failure, especially in patients with no previous history or signs of cardiovascular disease

DAMIR BONACIN

DAMIR FABIJANIĆ

NINA BEROVIĆ

TONĆI BATINIĆ

VEDRAN CAREVIĆ

English

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64 www.signavitae.comAcute heart failure due to the left atrial myxoma causing mitral valve obstructionABSTRACTA 64 year-old woman without history of cardiovascular diseases and without cardiovascular risk factors was referred to our hospital because of acute heart failure. A real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (3D) revealed left atrium tumor causing mitral valve obstruction. 3D characteristics of the tumor were highly suggestive of cardiac myxoma. Surgical exci-sion was successfully performed and myxoma was confirmed histologically. Although cardiac myxoma typically presents a silent heart failure, our case suggests that it should be even considered a cause of acute heart failure, especially in patients with no previous history or signs of cardiovascular disease.DAMIR FABIJANI  (  ) VEDRAN CAREVI  •NINA BEROVIDAMIR BONACINUniversity Hospital SplitSpin i eva 1, 21000 Split, CroatiaPhone: +38521556766Fax: +38521556031 E-mail: damir.fabijanic@st.t-com.hrTON I BATINIDepartment of Radiology, Split University Hospital, Split, CroatiaDAMIR FABIJANI  • CRISTIJAN BULAT • VEDRAN CAREVI  • MATIJA MILI  • NINA BEROVI  • TON I BATINICASE REPORT   SIGNA VITAE 2013; 8(2): 64 - 66Key words: acute heart failure, echo-cardiography, myxoma.IntroductionMyxoma is the most common primary cardiac tumor. It accounts for 50% of the benign tumors of the heart. (1,2) Despite its benign pathologic nature, catastrophic results can occur because of systemic or pulmonary embolism and intracardiac obstruction. (1,2) Left atrial myxomas usually cause silent heart fai-lure, and rarely acute heart failure can be the first clinical manifestation. (1,2)We present a patient with acute heart failure due to the huge left atrial myxo-ma causing mitral valve obstruction.Case presentationA 64 year-old woman without history of cardiovascular diseases and without cardiovascular risk factors was referred to our hospital because of moderate chest pain, dyspnea, orthopnea and fatigability occurred one day before admission. However, the first symptoms appeared 2 months before hospitaliza-tion, in form of exertional dyspnea. On physical examination the patient was afebrile, dyspneic and orthopneic. Cardiac auscultation revealed a regular rhythm of approximately 110 beats per minute; quiet heart sounds and 3/6 diastolic murmur were audible at the apex. Blood pressure was 120/80 mm Hg. Respiratory rate was 28 breaths per minute. Pulmonary auscultation revealed bilateral crackles in lower lung fields.Electrocardiogram documented sinus tachycardia (100/min). Chest radiogra-phy showed normal cardiac silhouette with features of pulmonary edema: a pulmonary vascular congestion and Kerley B lines at the lung bases. Labo-ratory data revealed high erythrocyte sedimentation rate (50 mm/hr) and C-reactive protein value (44.8 mg/L). Other hematological and biochemical parameters were within normal limits.Patient was hemodynamically stabi-lized. Transthoracic echocardiography showed a huge, mobile, hyperecho-genic, heterogeneous, and lobulated left-atrial mass measuring approxi-mately 60 mm by 40 mm. The mass almost completely filled left atrium and was attached to the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve with wide short pedicle. In diastole, the tumor was obstructing mitral valve orifice causing a function-al stenosis. Other echocardiographic parameters were unremarkable. The systolic function was preserved with an estimated left ventricular ejec-tion fraction of 68%. Real-time three-dimensional (3D) transthoracic (TTE) and transesophageal (TEE) echocar-diography allowed to accurately image the entire volume of the myxoma and its relationship to other intracardiac structures as well as to analyse the dynamic mitral valve obstruction (figure 1A). The size of the lobulated mass as assessed by 3D TTE was 65×45×22 mm. The mass stalk was seen attached to the basal segment of the posterior mitral valve leaflet (figure 1B). Also, 3D TEE enabled a better analysis of the tumor composition. Namely, 3D TEE reconstruction revealed heteroge-neous mass with multiple necrotic and haemorrhagic zones which supported cardiac myxoma diagnosis. 65www.signavitae.comThe tumor was completely surgically removed (figure 2). The histology of the specimen revealed a cardiac myxoma. Patient was discharged uneventfully on the 8th postoperative day. Five months later, the patient remains well, with nor-mal echocardiographic findings.  DiscussionPrimary cardiac tumors are uncommon with the incidence between 0.0017% and 0.33%. (1,2) About two-thirds of these tumors are myxoma that typically arises in the left atrium (80%) along the interatrial septum near the fossa ovalis. (1,2) Occasionally, myxomas arise in the right atrium (15%), the ventricles (3-4%), or valves. Cardiac myxomas arise more frequently in women and usually appear between ages of 50 and 70. (1,2)Clinical manifestations of cardiac myxomas are most often determined by tumor size, location and mobility, and could occur as: (1) symptoms of mec-hanical valvular obstruction, (2) embo-lization to the pulmonary or systemic circulation and (3) nonspecific constitu-tional symptoms and/or hematological findings. (1-3)Obstruction to blood flow may occur at the orifice of any valve mimicking the clinical picture of valve stenosis. (1,2) If the tumor is large enough, soft and easi-ly deformable, and if it has a long stalk, temporary complete valve obstructi-on may occur, resulting in syncope, sudden death or heart failure. (2) The most frequently obstructive symptom is dyspnea that occurs in approximately 80% of patients with atrial myxoma. Left atrial myxoma produces symptoms when it reaches approximately 7 cm in size. (2) Because of possibility to evaluate struc-tural, functional and hemodynamic status of the cardiovascular system, echocardiography is accepted as a first-line imaging method in patients with dyspnea. Comprehensive TTE examination provides high accuracy in detecting and distinguishing intracar-diac masses. (4-7) However, TEE has advantage in detection of small masses (1 to 3 mm in diameter), especially in patients with suboptimal TTE images. (7) The TEE also permits a sharper pic-ture of the attachment or stalk of the mass, and more precise characterizati-on of its size, shape, and location. (4) Two-dimensional echocardiography measurements may underestimate the true maximum size of irregularly shaped structures. Therefore, 3D offers incremental value for the evaluation of cardiac masses by providing more accurate assessment of the size and shape of the mass as well as in some cases, composition of the mass. (8) 3D aids with the relationship between the mass and adjacent structures. (8) In that context, better characterization of intracardiac mass with 3D can com-pletely eliminate the need of additional imaging techniques, especially cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and mul-tislice computed tomography.The accepted treatment of cardiac myxoma is operative excision. (1,2) Surgical removal of a tumor is important for preventing systemic or pulmonary emboli, eliminating valvular obstructi-on, maintaining systolic function, and restoring biventricular diastolic fun-ction. (1,2) It should not be delayed since death from obstruction to flow or embolization may occur in 8% of patients awaiting operation. (2) Surgical treatment leads to complete resolution with low rates of recurrence and good long-term survival. (1,2)In conclusion, the left atrial myxomas should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute heart failure, par-ticularly in patients with no previous history or symptoms of cardiovascular diseases. Echocardiography provides substantial advantages in detecting cardiac masses. Therefore, echocar-diography is recommended early in the work-up of acute heart failure of unknown etiology after the common causes have been ruled out. Figure 1. Three-dimensional real time transthoracic echocardiography showed tumor which almost fills left atrium (A) attached to the basal segment of the posterior mitral valve leaflet with wide short stalk (B).  LA, left atrium; LV, left ventricle; RA, right atrim; RV, right ventricle; Tm, tumor.Figure 2.  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Acute heart failure due to the left atrial myxoma causing mitral valve obstruction

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