Cardiac Myxomas

During the past five years, nine cases of atrial myxoma, seven left and two right, have been diagnosed and successfully treated at this institution. Seven were female and all were Caucasian except for one Negro man. Dyspnea was the most common symptom, being present in all nine patients. Six of the nine complained of vague chest pain and syncope was present in three. Ankle edema was prominent in eight patients. Emboli, pulmonary and/or systemic, occurred in four patients. Congestive heart failure, right and/or left, was present in eight of the nine; no patient complained of hemoptysis. Four patients were found to have anemia and three noted fever. The atrial myxoma was successfully removed with the aid of cardiopulmonary bypass and all nine patients noted marked symptomatic improvement. The clinical, electrocardiographic, and pathologic features are described.