Miscellaneous

Question 1

What is atrial myxoma?

Answer 1

Benign tumour of the heart

Question 2

What part of the heart does atrial myxoma usually affect?

Answer 2

Left atrium

Question 3

What gender is atrial myxoma most common in?

Answer 3

F>M

Question 4

What are the causes of atrial myxoma?

Answer 4

Genetic (although most are sporadic)

Question 5

What type of inheritance is involved in familial atrial myxoma?

Answer 5

Autosomal dominant

Question 6

How does atrial myxoma present?

Answer 6

Fever

Dyspnoea

Weight loss

Arthralgia

Syncope

Auscultation

• Loud 1st heart sound
• Tumour plop (a loud 3rd heart sound)

Clubbing

Question 7

What other cardiovascular condition can atrial myxoma mimic?

Answer 7

Stenosis from the tumour prolapsing into the valve, or regurgitation from related valve trauma

Question 8

What investigations are used in atrial myxoma diagnosis?

Answer 8

ECHO

• Pedunculated heterogenous mass

FBC

• Anaemia
• Polycythaemia

>ESR

Question 9

What is the management of atrial myxoma?

Answer 9

Surgical resection

Question 10

Name some complications of atrial myxoma?

Answer 10

Peripheral or pulmonary emboli