title: Left ventricular cardiac myxoma and sudden death in a dog.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Myxoma is a very rare benign cardiac tumor in dogs. This is the first description of a cardiac myxoma originating from the left ventricular outflow tract, presumably causing sudden death.
  
  
  METHODS
  A previously healthy 12-year-old male West Highland white terrier was found dead during its 1-week stay in a kennel. The dog was known to have a cardiac murmur. On necropsy, a pedunculated neoplasia was found attached to the interventricular aspect of the left ventricular outflow tract, resulting in almost complete obstruction of the aorta. As this was the only abnormality identified, the tumor was considered as the cause of sudden death. Histopathologic findings were compatible with a myxoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Benign intraluminal tumors of the heart are very rare in dogs, but may have fatal consequences. Echocardiography could have revealed the cause of the cardiac murmur of this previously asymptomatic dog. Surgical removal could have been possible, as the tumor was pedunculated.
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Practice Schouwen-Duiveland, Grevelingenstraat 17, 4301 XZ, Zierikzee, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Maria Irene
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: de Nijs
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, Utrecht, 3584 CX, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Aryan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vink
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathobiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 1, Utrecht, 3584 CL, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Wilhelmina
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Bergmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 108, Utrecht, 3584 CM, The Netherlands. v.szatmari@uu.nl.
authors.forename: Viktor
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0273-6586
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Szatmári
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001344:Autopsy / Q000662:veterinary; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D004285:Dogs; D006337:Heart Murmurs / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009232:Myxoma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: Aorta; Heart; Neoplasia; Obstruction