Key result
Left-atrial myxoma diagnosis takes ~38 weeks from symptom onset before rapid surgical excision.
There is a significant delay (median 38 weeks) between symptom onset and diagnosis of left-atrial myxoma, contrasting with the rapid surgical intervention (< 48 hours) following diagnosis.
Delayed left-atrial myxoma diagnosis merits greater clinical suspicion in unexplained cardiac symptoms; leaves open need for prospective studies on earlier detection.
The records of 40 patients, 28 females and 12 males with a median age of 49 years (range 13-80 years), undergoing excision of left-atrial myxoma at 3 London hospitals during a 21-year period were reviewed. The urgency of treatment is discussed, and the interval between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis (median 38 weeks), and also between diagnosis and surgery (< 48 hours) is considered.
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Nkere et al. (1993) studied this question. Patients with left-atrial myxoma experienced a median interval of 38 weeks from symptom onset to diagnosis, but underwent surgical excision in <48 hours following diagnosis.
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