Left atrial myxoma presenting with acute pulmonary oedema in an elderly woman.
Ramasamy KA., Onal F., Pell J., Kumar P., Vassallo M.
A previously healthy 76-year-old woman presented with an acute onset of shortness of breath due to acute pulmonary oedema. A transthoracic echocardiogram showed a large mobile mass attached to the inter-atrial septum occupying the whole of the left atrium. She was totally asymptomatic prior to this presentation. She was transferred to a tertiary cardiothoracic unit and had it surgically removed. Histology confirmed a benign atrial myxoma. Her symptoms resolved spontaneously without the need for further medication. This highlights the importance of echocardiography for patients of any age who present to hospital with a first episode of pulmonary oedema. This report also emphasises the fact that all patients, including the elderly, should be immediately referred for surgery because of its good prognosis.