Atrial myxoma; left

Alternative names:

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

Symptoms:

• chest pain or tightness
• shortness of breath (dyspnea)
• dyspnea with activity
• dyspnea when flat (orthopnea)
• dyspnea when asleep (paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea)
• dizziness
• fainting (syncope)
• sensation of feeling heart beat (palpitations)

Note: Symptoms may occur with change of body position or at any time.

Other symptoms that may be present include:

• cough
• fever
• involuntary weight loss of at least 5% of body weight
• general discomfort (malaise)
• joint pain
• blueness (cyanosis) of skin, especially the fingers
• fingers that change color upon pressure or with cold or stress
• curvature of nails accompanied with soft tissue enlargement (clubbing) of the fingers
• changes in thought pattern, sensation, or movement
• changes in vision, vision loss
• awakening at night to urinate (nocturia)
• swelling (edema), any part of the body

Signs and tests:

Symptoms may mimic left-sided heart failure. Examination with a stethoscope (auscultation) of the heart may reveal "tumor plop" (a sound related to movement of the tumor) or other abnormal sounds. Auscultation of the lungs may show crackles. Neck veins may be distended. Examination of the eyes may show retinal infarction (tissue death). An echocardiogram may show myxoma or mitral stenosis.

Other tests include:

• a chest X-ray
• a coronary angiography
• a CT scan of chest
• a heart MRI
• a left heart angiography
• a right heart angiography

An ECG may show atrial fibrillation. A urinalysis may show blood cells if there is lung (pulmonary) vein congestion. A CBC may show anemia or inflammation. The sedimentation rate is decreased.