non-cardiac signs and symptoms of atrial myxoma

Q: Describe a few non-cardiac signs and symptoms of atrial myxoma?

Answer: Atrial myxomas are interesting in the sense that they carry fascinating non-cardiac manifestations.

• Fever of Unknown Origin (FUO) - up to one-third of cases 
• Weight loss
• Arthralgias
• Emboli, and
• hypergammaglobulinemia
• anemia 
• elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), 
• Elevated C-reactive protein

Diagnosis is usually confirmed by echocardiography.    

#cardiology
#surgical-critical-care
References:

1. Kuon E, Kreplin M, Weiss W, Dahm JB. The challenge presented by right atrial myxoma. Herz 2004; 29:702.


2. Pinede L, Duhaut P, Loire R. Clinical presentation of left atrial cardiac myxoma. A series of 112 consecutive cases. Medicine (Baltimore) 2001; 80:159. 

 3. Jelic J, Milicić D, Alfirević I, et al. Cardiac myxoma: diagnostic approach, surgical treatment and follow-up. A twenty years experience. J Cardiovasc Surg (Torino) 1996; 37:113. 

4. Maisch B. Immunology of cardiac tumors. Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1990; 38 Suppl 2:157.