title: Identification of a mobile intracardiac rheumatoid nodule mimicking an atrial myxoma.
abstract: Cardiovascular involvement occurs in 30% to 50% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and typically presents as nonspecific inflammation or fibrosis of cardiac structures or as nodules embedded in the various cardiac tissues. This case report describes a unique pedunculated, mobile left atrial rheumatoid nodule prolapsing through the mitral valve plane and mimicking an atrial myxoma. A brief discussion of intracardiac rheumatoid nodules and their potential significance follows.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ 85006, USA.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Webber
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Selsky
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Roper
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009232:Myxoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012214:Rheumatic Heart Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012218:Rheumatoid Nodule / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging