[Cardiac myxoma: an analysis of 30 patients].
BACKGROUND
Myxomas are the most common type of benign heart tumors. The aim of this study was to correlate the clinical forms of presentation of cardiac myxoma and complementary laboratory results with the morphological features of the tumor.


METHODS
We reviewed retrospectively a total of 30 cardiac myxomas seen in 2 institutions after a period of 22 years. In the same period 5 cardiac sarcomas were identified. The Chi-Square test and Fischer's exact test were used to compare the variables. In one patient the IL-6 production by peripherals blood cells before and after surgical tumor resection was evaluated.


RESULTS
The patients were evenly distributed between genders. The mean age of this group was 60 years. The most prevalent clinical manifestations were cardiac symptoms (73,3%), constitutional symptoms (30%) and embolisms (26,7%). All cases were diagnosed by transthoracic echocardiography and the most frequent location of the tumor was the left atrium. Larger-diameter myxomas were observed in older patients and correlated with cardiac symptoms, radiological and electrocardiographical abnormalities. Smaller-diameter myxomas presented more frequently embolic phenomenons. There were no deaths during the postoperative period and the principal postoperative complication was transient arrhytmias. There was no evidence of recurrence of the disease. In one patient with systemic manifestations monocytes were observed to contribute to the increased serum levels of IL-6.


CONCLUSIONS
Myxomas are the most frequent tumors of the heart. The most common initial manifestations were cardiac symptoms. Diagnosis was achieved in all patients by transthoracic echocardiography. The size and macroscopic appearance of the tumor correlated with the age of the patients and some clinical symptoms and laboratory


RESULTS
Surgical excision was a safe and effective procedure. (c) 2009 Elsevier España, S.L. All rights reserved.
García Zubiri
C
C
Servicio de Medicina Interna. Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro. Madrid. España.
Yebra Yebra
M
M
Salas Antón
C
C
García Madero
R
R
Manzano Espinosa
L
L
Yebra Bango
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009232:Myxoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies