Overview
At a Glance
Atrial myxoma is usually a benign primary cardiac tumour, but its location and mobility can make it dangerous.
Atrial myxoma is usually a benign primary cardiac tumour, but its location and mobility can make it dangerous. A mobile mass may intermittently cover an atrioventricular valve like a flexible flap over a doorway: at one moment blood flows, and with a change in position or cardiac filling, inflow can be restricted. The tumour can also shed material into the circulation or release inflammatory mediators. For the RN, three patterns matter most: 1. Obstruction: exertional or position-related dyspnea, orthopnea, syncope, pulmonary congestion, or low-output symptoms. 2. Embolization: sudden neurologic, limb, abdominal, visual, coronary, or pulmonary findings. 3. Inflammation: fever, fatigue, weight loss, anaemia, or raised inflammatory markers that may resemble infection, autoimmune disease, or malignancy. A presumptive diagnosis is usually made with echocardiography. The definitive pathway is prompt cardiology and cardiothoracic-surgery assessment, followed by excision when feasible and pathology review. No medication reliably removes a myxoma.