Myxomas are one of the most common types of non-cancerous tumors. This tumor can cause ball-valve type obstruction and it is derived from multi-potential mesenchymal cells. Around three-fourth of the myxoma occurs in the left atrium. They start beginning in the place where the two chambers get separated and then move to either right or left.

Left atrial myxomas are linked with atrial fibrillation and tricuspid stenosis. Myxoma is more common in women and around 10% cases for the atrial myxoma are because of inherited genes and they are known as familial myxomas and they have symptoms occurrence in earlier age. They occur in more than one part of heart at time.

 

 

There are number of symptoms bound with atrial myxoma: Shortness of breath, dizziness, fainting, chest pain, palpitations and difficulty in breathing at time of sleep. General symptoms for left atrial myxoma are clubbing of nails, fever, and cough, swelling in any part of body, bluish skin color, joint pain, sudden weight loss and discomfort.

The cardiologist at time of diagnose will hear the heart sound using stethoscope to check tumor plop,

 

 

which is an abnormal sound of the tumor of myxoma, to confirm its presence. Other tests may include echo cardiogram, CT scan of chest, chest x-ray, left heart angiography, right heart angiography and ECG.

The tumor must be removed surgically, while, some patients must require the replacement of mitral valve, and this can be done at time of surgery. If myxoma is not removed carefully at time of surgery, the tissues will regenerate to form it again. Although, myxoma is non-cancerous but it has many complications bounded. For instance, if it is not treated carefully, the affect can go towards other parts of body like brain, eyes or limbs.