Atrial myxoma; left

Alternative names:

cardiac tumor; heart tumor; myxoma; myxoma - atrial; tumor - heart

Definition:

A tumor located in the left upper chamber (atrium) of the heart, involving the connective tissue within the heart muscle. It is a primary cardiac (heart) tumor--the initial tumor site is within the heart. See also atrial myxoma; right.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Primary tumors of the heart are rare. Most tumors in the heart are the result of the movement of cells from other tumors (metastasis). Of the primary cardiac tumors, myxomas are the most common. Over 80% of myxomas are in the left atrium, usually beginning in the wall that divides the lower chambers of the heart (ventricles) and growing into the atrium. However, right atrial myxoma may also occur. Left atrial myxoma occurs in approximately 5 out of 1,000,000 people. Myxomas are more common in women.

Risk factors include a having a personal or family history of cardiac myxoma (heart tumors). Other risk factors include having a history of bowel infarction (tissue death), or a recent history of peripheral, pulmonary (lung), or systemic emboli. Myxomas may also be associated with mitral stenosis or atrial fibrillation.