Myxoma is an intracardiac tumor; it is found inside the heart. Seventy five percent of all myxomas are found in the left atrium, and almost all other myxomas are found in the right atrium.
There are three major syndromes linked to myxomas: embolic events, obstruction of blood flow, and constitutional syndromes.
Surgery is used to remove the tumor. Myxomas can regrow if they are not completely removed. The survival rate for this operation is excellent.
DefinitionAn atrial myxoma is a noncancerous tumor in the upper left or right side of the heart. It grows on the wall (atrial septum) that separates the two sides of the heart.Causes, incidence, and risk factorsA myxoma is a primary heart (cardiac) tumor. This means that the tumor started within the heart. Most heart tumors start somewhere else.Primary cardiac tumors are rare. Myxomas are the most common type of these rare tumors. About 75% of myxomas occur in the left atrium of the heart, usually beginning in the wall that divides the two upper chambers of the heart. The rest are in the right atrium. Right atrial myxomas are sometimes associated with tricuspid stenosis and atrial fibrillation.Myxomas are more common in women. About 10% of myxomas are passed down through families (inherited). Such tumors are called familial myxomas. They tend to occur in more than one part of the heart at a time, and often cause symptoms at a younger age than other myxomas.SymptomsSymptoms may occur at any time, but most often they accompany a change of body position. Symptoms may include:Breathing difficulty when lying flatBreathing difficulty when asleepChest pain or tightnessDizzinessFaintingSensation of feeling your heart beat (palpitations)Shortness of breath with activityThe symptoms and signs of left atrial myxomas often mimic mitral stenosis.General symptoms may also be present, such as:Blueness of skin, especially the fingers (Raynaud's phenomenon)CoughCurvature of nails accompanied with soft tissue enlargement (clubbing) of the fingersFeverFingers that change color upon pressure or with cold or stressGeneral discomfort (malaise)Involuntary weight lossJoint painSwelling - any part of the bodyThese general symptoms may also mimic those of infective endocarditis.Signs and testsThe health care provider will listen to the heart with stethoscope. A "tumor plop" (a sound related to movement of the tumor), abnormal heart sounds, or murmur may be heard. These sounds may change when the patient changes position.Right atrial myxomas rarely produce symptoms until they have grown to be at least 13 cm (about 5 inches) wide.Imaging tests may include:Chest x-rayCT scan of chestECGEchocardiogramDoppler studyHeart MRILeft heart angiographyRight heart angiographyBlood tests:A complete blood count may show anemia and increased white blood cells. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is increased.TreatmentThe tumor must be surgically removed. Some patients will also need their mitral valve replaced. This can be done during the same surgery.Myxomas may come back if surgery did not remove all of the tumor cells.Expectations (prognosis)Although a myxoma is not cancer, complications are common. Untreated, a myxoma can lead to an embolism (tumor cells breaking off and traveling with the bloodstream), which can block blood flow or cause the myxoma to grow in another part of the body. Myxoma fragments can move to the brain, eye, or limbs.If the tumor grows inside the heart, it can block blood flow through the mitral valve and cause symptoms of mitral stenosis. This may require emergency surgery to prevent sudden death.ComplicationsArrhythmiasPulmonary edemaPeripheral emboliSpread (metastasis) of the tumorBlockage of the mitral heart valveCalling your health care providerTell your health care provider if there is any family history of myxomas or if you have symptoms of atrial myxoma.
According to SOWPODS (the combination of Scrabble dictionaries used around the world) there are 4 words with the pattern MY---A-. That is, seven letter words with 1st letter M and 2nd letter Y and 6th letter A. In alphabetical order, they are: myogram myopias myricas myxomas
According to SOWPODS (the combination of Scrabble dictionaries used around the world) there are 5 words with the pattern -Y--MA-. That is, seven letter words with 2nd letter Y and 5th letter M and 6th letter A. In alphabetical order, they are: byreman myxomas pyjamas xylomas zygomas
According to SOWPODS (the combination of Scrabble dictionaries used around the world) there are 1 words with the pattern MY-O-A-. That is, seven letter words with 1st letter M and 2nd letter Y and 4th letter O and 6th letter A. In alphabetical order, they are: myxomas
According to SOWPODS (the combination of Scrabble dictionaries used around the world) there are 1 words with the pattern M-XO-A-. That is, seven letter words with 1st letter M and 3rd letter X and 4th letter O and 6th letter A. In alphabetical order, they are: myxomas
According to SOWPODS (the combination of Scrabble dictionaries used around the world) there are 3 words with the pattern MY---AS. That is, seven letter words with 1st letter M and 2nd letter Y and 6th letter A and 7th letter S. In alphabetical order, they are: myopias myricas myxomas
According to SOWPODS (the combination of Scrabble dictionaries used around the world) there are 1 words with the pattern MY--MA-. That is, seven letter words with 1st letter M and 2nd letter Y and 5th letter M and 6th letter A. In alphabetical order, they are: myxomas
According to SOWPODS (the combination of Scrabble dictionaries used around the world) there are 1 words with the pattern -YXOM--. That is, seven letter words with 2nd letter Y and 3rd letter X and 4th letter O and 5th letter M. In alphabetical order, they are: myxomas
According to SOWPODS (the combination of Scrabble dictionaries used around the world) there are 1 words with the pattern M-XOM--. That is, seven letter words with 1st letter M and 3rd letter X and 4th letter O and 5th letter M. In alphabetical order, they are: myxomas