title: Very large left atrial myxoma: an unusual differential diagnosis of bronchial hyper-reactivity.
abstract: Intra- and paracardiac tumors are rare. Clinical symptoms are typically secondary to mechanical effects of the mass. We describe a patient, who was in good general health, presenting with a 6-month history of unspecific symptoms considered consistent with reccurrent lower airway infections by her primary care physician. A chest X-ray suggested left-atrial enlargement and a questionable mass, which eventually was identified as large left-atrial tumor partially obstructing the mitral orifice. The case demonstrates that even a very large left-atrial tumor, causing intermittent partial obstruction of the mitral valve may present with mild unspecific symptoms.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Cardiology and Angiology, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Schittenhelmstr.12, 24105 Kiel, Germany ; 2 Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Arnold-Heller Str. 3, 24105 Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grothusen
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Cardiology and Angiology, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Schittenhelmstr.12, 24105 Kiel, Germany ; 2 Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Arnold-Heller Str. 3, 24105 Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schöttler
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Cardiology and Angiology, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Schittenhelmstr.12, 24105 Kiel, Germany ; 2 Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Arnold-Heller Str. 3, 24105 Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cremer
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Cardiology and Angiology, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Schittenhelmstr.12, 24105 Kiel, Germany ; 2 Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Arnold-Heller Str. 3, 24105 Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Norbert
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Frey
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Cardiology and Angiology, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Schittenhelmstr.12, 24105 Kiel, Germany ; 2 Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, Arnold-Heller Str. 3, 24105 Kiel, Germany.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Langer
keywords: Cardiac mass; cardiac imaging; cardiac myxoma; cardiac surgery