Myxomas of the Heart

Atrial myxomas are most commons in childhood and comprise 6 to 10% of primary cardiac tumors. Less than 10% of patients with cardiac myxomas are under 15 years of age. More than 90% are solitary. A large myxoma occupying in the right atrium and prolapsing into the right ventricle pulmonary artery and producing tricuspid and pulmonary valve obstructions in a 12 year old male child. A large myxoma occupying in the left atrium producing mitral stenosis and regurgitation and It remained asymptomatic for a long period with a survival up to the age of 75 years in an elderly female. From an epidemiologic perspective cardiac myxomas are best divided into the following 2 categories; those that arise in isolation and those that arise in the setting of a syndrome (so called Carney Complex).The former account for about 90-95% of cases while the later account for a minority of cases and those arise from the right or left ventricle constitute as 3% each.