Dr Vivek Baliga discusses left atrial myxoma for medical students. Lecture includes a link to MCQs in the video. For access to video, please copy and paste this link --> https://youtu.be/JtkWxbVklgA

1. Left Atrial Myxoma
A Review For Medical Students
Dr B Vivek Baliga
Consultant Physician And Director
Baliga Diagnostics

2. WHAT YOU WILL LEARN
1. What is LA Myxoma?
2. Pathology
3. Clinical Features
4. Diagnostic methods
5. Management
6. MCQs
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3. INTRODUCTION
Cardiac tumours are a commonly asked question in medical
exams.
The most common cardiac tumour that is encountered in
clinical practice is a left atrial myxoma.
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POSSIBLE QUESTIONS
1. Write a note on Left atrial myxoma
2. Discuss cardiac tumors
3. Write a note on the most common cardiac tumor

4. LA MYXOMA
▹ Most common type of primary
cardiac tumor that is seen in
adults.
▹ Predominantly seen in females
▹ Between the ages of 30 and 60
years
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5. CLASSIFICATION
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6. 2 BASIC TYPES6
SPORADIC
90% of cases
Usually solitary
FAMILIAL
10% of cases
Tend to be
multiple
PART OF CLINICAL SYNDROMES
Carney Complex
LAMB Syndrome
NAME syndrome

7. PATHOLOGY
▹ Primarily composed of a gelatin -like structure that contains
myxoma cells in a stroma composed of glycosaminoglycans.
▹ Myxomas produce vascular endothelial growth factor which is
responsible for its enlargement of size.
▹ Typical myxomas range between 1 to 15 cm in diameter.
▹ Around 30% of these tumours have a friable surface and can
embolize.
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Imagecourtesy Wikimediacommons,user Nephron

8. SITE AND LOCATION
Myxomas are mostly present in the left
atrium, and are attached through a
pedicle to the fossa ovalis.
The pedicle consists of fibrous and
vascular tissue.
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9. CLINICAL FEATURES
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10. SYMPTOMS
▹ Early stages - No symptoms
▹ Later - Features of cardiac
failure
▹ ‘Tumor plop’ - Heard in early
diastole
▹ May be associated MR
▹ Constitutional symptoms -
fever, malaise etc
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11. COMPLICATIONS
1. Mitral valve - mitral stenosis or
mitral regurgitation
2. Embolism - peripheral or
neurological
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12. DIAGNOSIS
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13. ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY IS CONFIRMATORY
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14. 14 MANAGEMENT
▹ Surgical excision through cardiopulmonary
bypass.
▹ Surgical mortality risk is less than 5%.
▹ This treatment is curative and only 1 to 2% of
sporadic cases recur.
▹ Familial cases have a slightly higher recurrence
rate of up to 20%.

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For more information and exam
questions on LA myxoma, visit the link
in the description.