title: AN UNUSUAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC PATTERN OF A LEFT ATRIAL MYXOMA.
abstract: Unusual echocardiographic findings in a 58-year-old woman with a history of rheumatic fever and an angiographically demonstrated prolapsing left atrial myxoma are presented. With variations of gain and damping controls, it was possible to isolate a more distinct anterior mitral leaflet echo, or a more posterior linear echo, thought to represent the prolapsing tumor. The tumor, instead of presenting as a cloud of echoes behind the anterior mitral valve leaflet, demonstrated an alternate pattern of a single linear dense echo at this location. Echocardiography, though very useful in the diagnosis of left atrial tumors, can be fallible at times.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine and the Ben Taub General Hospital.
authors.forename: Jean-Robert
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Mathurin
authors.forename: Ajit V.
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Adyanthaya
authors.forename: Lawrence J.
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Petrovich
authors.forename: Mauricio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.forename: Kenneth L.
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Mattox
authors.forename: James K.
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Alexander