title: Familial cardiac myxoma.
abstract: The majority of cardiac myxomas occur sporadically as isolated lesions in the left atrium of middle-aged women. However, a "familial" form and a "syndrome" form of this lesion have been identified. The syndrome myxoma can present with pigmented skin lesions and peripheral or endocrine neoplasms. The familial and syndrome forms of cardiac myxomas can usually be distinguished from the sporadic form by the presentation at a younger age, the unusual location and multicentricity of the lesions, and the presence of rare pathological conditions. In addition, a higher rate of recurrent lesions is usually associated with the familial and syndrome forms of this disease. To date, 15 families with cardiac myxomas have been reported in the world's literature. Here we present 2 additional case reports.
authors.affiliation: Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville 32610.
authors.forename: H M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: van Gelder
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Staples
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Alexander
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009232:Myxoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics*