title: An unexpected left atrial cavernous hemangioma: the cardiac surgeon needs an optimal preoperative study!
abstract: An optimal preoperative evaluation is fundamental to the assessment of all patients undergoing cardiac surgery. We report the case of a male patient who underwent elective coronary artery bypass surgery, and intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) revealed an unexpected left atrial cavernous hemangioma. The tumor was resected via a transatrial approach, and a definitive diagnosis was made after histological examination. This uncommon intra-atrial tumor (which accounts for approximately 2.8% of all benign cardiac neoplasms) was detected at the time of the operation as no basic echocardiography study had been performed on the patient during the process of diagnosing his coronary heart disease because of a suboptimal cardiological work-up. Most cardiac masses are discovered incidentally by imaging techniques; in this patient, transthoracic echocardiography could have aided in the preoperative study and enabled the cardiac surgeon to plan and perform the adequate surgical procedure beforehand. Intraoperative TEE should be used routinely in all patients undergoing cardiac surgery: the clinical information obtained in certain cases might have a direct impact on surgical decision-making and might therefore positively influence patient's outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Carlos Haya Hospital, Málaga, Spain. draglezlopez@hotmail.com
authors.forename: María Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: González López
authors.forename: Pedro Javier
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Aranda Granados
authors.forename: Laureano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Delange Segura
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez de Loma
mesh_terms: D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006392:Hemangioma, Cavernous / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011300:Preoperative Care