Cardiac myxoma: A surgical experience of 38 patients over 9 years, at SSKM hospital Kolkata, India.
BACKGROUND
Cardiac myxoma is the most common benign intracardiac tumor. We studied its clinical presentation, morbidity, mortality and recurrence following surgery over a period of 9 years.


METHODS
This study was performed at cardiothoracic and vascular surgery department of a tertiary level hospital of eastern India, Seth Sukhlal Karnani Memorial hospital, Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research Kolkata. Near 6000 cardiac cases were operated at our center over this period. Preoperative diagnosis was made with clinical presentation and preoperative echocardiography. Complete tumor excision was done and all patients were followed up for recurrence and complications.


RESULTS
A total of 38 cases of cardiac myxoma were operated over a period from October 2002 to October 2011. Cardiac myxoma constituted about 0.6% of all cardiac cases operated at our institute. This most commonly presented at fifth decade of life. Of these, 35 cases were left atrial and 2 cases were right atrial, and 1 case was having both atrial involvements. The left atrial myxoma mostly presented as mitral stenosis and very few presented with embolic and constitutional symptoms. No death or recurrence was observed during the follow up period.


CONCLUSIONS
Cardiac myxomas form a very small percentage of the cardiac cases. A high index of suspicion is essential for diagnosis. Echocardiography is the ideal diagnostic tool as also for follow-up. Immediate surgical treatment is indicated in all patients. Cardiac myxomas can be excised with a low rate of mortality and morbidity.
Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, S.S.K.M. Hospital, Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, West Bengal, India.
Mohammad Shahbaaz
MS
Khan
Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, S.S.K.M. Hospital, Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, West Bengal, India.
Prokash K
PK
Sanki
Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, S.S.K.M. Hospital, Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, West Bengal, India.
Mohammad Z
MZ
Hossain
Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, S.S.K.M. Hospital, Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, West Bengal, India.
Anup
A
Charles
Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, S.S.K.M. Hospital, Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, West Bengal, India.
Shubhankar
S
Bhattacharya
Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, S.S.K.M. Hospital, Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research, West Bengal, India.
Uday N
UN
Sarkar
Atrial myxoma; biatrial myxoma; cardiac tumour