title: A 30-year-single-center experience in atrial myxomas: from presentation to treatment and prognosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The symptoms of myxoma are atypical, vary greatly, and may mimic numerous conditions. Our aim was to investigate the correlation of localization, size, and consistency of myxoma with its treatment and prognosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Over a span of 30 years, 74 consecutive patients (24 men, mean age 46.7 years) were surgically treated for echocardiography-diagnosed myxomas at our center.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Left atrial myxomas were more frequent (89.19%), with the racemous form being predominantly left-sided and having no difference in tumor size regardless of localization. Three patients were asymptomatic; and those who were symptomatic, symptoms appeared 2 to 36 months (mean 13.60 ± 7.52) before diagnosis. Nonspecific symptoms and signs were present in 91.98% of patients, whereas specific symptoms and signs were present in 74.32%. More often, patients with myxomas >5 cm in diameter were symptomatic. Embolic events occurred in 15 patients (9 cerebral, 4 pulmonary, 2 peripheral), more frequently in right atrial myxomas of >5 cm diameter. All patients were surgically treated on diagnoses, with no intraoperative mortality or recurrences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Symptoms in our cardiac myxoma patients were more pronounced when the myxomas were left-sided, racemous, and over 5 cm in diameter. Even in asymptomatic patients, a high index of suspicion assured timely diagnosis and management.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Clinical Center of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Biljana
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Obrenović-Kirćanski
authors.forename: Aleksandar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mikić
authors.forename: Biljana
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Parapid
authors.forename: Petar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Djukić
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kanjuh
authors.forename: Nataša
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Milić
authors.forename: Nataša
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kovačević-Kostić
authors.forename: Miloš
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Velinović
authors.forename: Petar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Seferović
authors.forename: Mile
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vraneš
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009232:Myxoma / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D055771:Serbia; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D047368:Tumor Burden; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult