Key result
Resection reveals undifferentiated pleomorphic left atrial sarcoma mimicking a benign myxoma.
Why the study?
Differentiating malignant cardiac tumors such as undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcomas from benign myxomas is challenging due to overlapping imaging features and rarity of primary cardiac tumors.
Case Report (n=1)
Highlights that undifferentiated cardiac pleomorphic sarcomas can closely mimic benign myxomas on multimodality imaging, necessitating careful assessment for subtle invasive features and preoperative planning for extensive infiltration.
Undifferentiated sarcomas may mimic myxomas on imaging; leaves open refined preoperative differentiation criteria.
When diagnosing cardiac tumors, it is important to consider factors such as the patient's age, tumor location, radiologic features, differentiation between benign and malignant tumors and to provide the surgeon with appropriate information. In this report, we present a case of two cardiac masses originating in the left atrium that were diagnosed as undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcomas through surgical resection. Imaging studies showed two masses attached to the posterior wall of the left atrium and mitral valve; hemorrhagic changes were suspected in these masses. Irregular thickening of the mitral valve suggests tumor invasion; however, the possibility of a mural thrombus should be excluded. Multiplicity, large size, and irregular mitral valve thickening suggest a malignancy. However, given the much higher incidence of myxomas, well-defined margins, and the fact that hemorrhagic changes can occur in large myxomas, the possibility of a benign tumor cannot be ruled out.
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Lee et al. (2026) conducted a case report in Cardiac Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma (n=1). Surgical resection was evaluated. Surgical resection of two left atrial masses confirmed the diagnosis of an undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma with hemorrhagic changes that mimicked a benign myxoma.
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