Cardiac Myxoma as of May 12, 2001

Cardiac Myxoma as of May 12, 2001

Cardiac myxoma is a benign cardiac tumor that occurs relatively rarely. With the advent of echocardiography and ECT, accurate diagnosis has become possible in recent years. According to statistics from Shanghai Chest Hospital covering the 20 years from 1955 to 1977, a total of 10 cases were admitted, of which only 4 were confirmed preoperatively. The clinical symptoms of this disease depend on the location of the tumor in the heart; tumors located in the left ventricle are more common and can lead to mitral valve insufficiency, producing a systolic blowing murmur. Sometimes the tumor grows extremely rapidly, causing plaque detachment and pulmonary embolism within a short period. Tumors in other locations may remain asymptomatic for years, going unnoticed. When the tumor grows rapidly, it releases certain metabolites and toxins, causing fever, anemia, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, protein abnormalities, and joint pain. Diagnosis of this disease mainly relies on echocardiography and ECT, as it is rare and often misdiagnosed. In recent years, thanks to advances in imaging technology and wider availability of medical facilities, the clinical detection rate of this disease has been steadily increasing. Once diagnosed, surgery should be performed immediately.