Myxoma

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Myxoma
Classification and external resources
ICD-10 D15.1
ICD-9 212.7
ICD-O: 8840/0
OMIM 255960
DiseasesDB 30736
eMedicine med/186 
MeSH D009232

A myxoma (Myxo- = New Latin from Greek muxa for mucus) is a tumor of primitive connective tissue.[1] It is the most common primary tumor of the heart, but can also occur in other locations.

The phrase "myxomatous degeneration" refers to the process in which connective tissue becomes filled with mucus.

Contents

[edit] Location

Myxomas are usually located in either the left or right atrium of the heart; about 86 percent occur in the left atrium.[2]

Myxomas are typically pedunculated, with a stalk that is attached to the interatrial septum. The most common location for attachment of the stalk is the fossa ovalis region of the interatrial septum.

About 71% of myxomas occur in the heart, 41% on the skin, and 7% in the oral cavity (usually on the palate).

[edit] Diagnosis

An atrial myxoma may create an extra heart sound, audible to auscultation just after S2.

It is most seen on echocardiography, as a pedunculated mass that is heterogeneous in appearance.

The differential diagnosis include other cardiac tumors such as lipomas and rhabdomyomas. These other tumors of the heart are typically not pedunculated, however, and are more likely to infiltrate the muscle of the heart. Cardiac Magnetic resonance Imaging can help non-invasively diagnose cardiac tumors.

[edit] Symptoms

Symptoms associated with cardiac myxomas are typically due to the effect of the mass of the tumor obstructing the normal flow of blood within the chambers of the heart.

Some symptoms of myxoma may be associated with the release of interleukin 6 (IL-6) by the myxoma.[3][4] High levels of IL-6 may be associated with a higher risk of embolism of the myxoma.[5]

Symptoms of a cardiac myxoma include[6]:

[edit] Treatment

Myxomas are usually removed surgically. The surgeon removes the myxoma, along with at least 5 surrounding milimeters of atrial septum. He will then repair the septum using material from the pericardium.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ m_25/12557169 at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
  2. ^ Knepper LE, Biller J, Adams HP, Bruno A (1988). "Neurologic manifestations of atrial myxoma. A 12-year experience and review". Stroke 19 (11): 1435–40. PMID 3188128. 
  3. ^ Seino Y, Ikeda U, Shimada K. (1993). "Increased expression of interleukin 6 mRNA in cardiac myxomas.". Br Heart J 69 (6): 565-7. doi:10.1136/hrt.69.6.565. PMID 8343326. 
  4. ^ Jourdan M, Bataille R, Seguin J, Zhang XG, Chaptal PA, Klein B (1990). "Constitutive production of interleukin-6 and immunologic features in cardiac myxomas.". Arthritis Rheum 33 (3): 398-402. doi:10.1002/art.1780330313. PMID 1690543. 
  5. ^ Wada A, Kanda t, Hayashi R, et al. (1993). "Cardiac myxoma metastasized to the brain: potential role of endogenous interleukin-6." 83 (3): 208-11. PMID 8281536. 
  6. ^ Fisher J. (1983). "Cardiac myxoma.". Cardiovasc Rev Rep (4): 1195-9. 

[edit] External links