Fire at the gate ruins fish: pulmonary embolism caused by right atrial myxoma

Cardiovasc J Afr. 2022;33(5):270-272. doi: 10.5830/CVJA-2021-062. Epub 2022 Jul 4.

Abstract

Myxoma is the most common benign type of cardiac tumour. Myxomas mainly occur in the left atrium, rarely in the right atrium. Right atrial myxoma (RAM) is therefore associated with few cases of pulmonary embolism (PE). In this study, we explored a case of RAM associated with PE and characterised by loss of consciousness. The patient was treated by surgical excision of the RAM. After the surgery, the patient showed a good recovery and was discharged nine days after the operation.

Keywords: pulmonary embolism; right atrial myxoma; surgical.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Heart Atria / diagnostic imaging
  • Heart Atria / pathology
  • Heart Atria / surgery
  • Heart Neoplasms* / complications
  • Heart Neoplasms* / diagnostic imaging
  • Heart Neoplasms* / surgery
  • Humans
  • Myxoma* / complications
  • Myxoma* / diagnostic imaging
  • Myxoma* / surgery
  • Pulmonary Embolism* / diagnostic imaging
  • Pulmonary Embolism* / etiology
  • Pulmonary Embolism* / surgery