Atrial myxoma

A myxoma is a rare benign tumor of the heart. Myxomas are the most common primary cardiac tumor in adults, and are most commonly found within the left atrium. Myxomas may also develop in the other heart chambers. The tumor is derived from multipotent mesenchymal cells.Echocardiogram of atrial myxomaEchocardiogram showing atrial myxomaEchocardiogram showing atrial myxomaAtrial myxoma and myocardium. H&E stain.Atrial myxoma. H&E stain.Atrial myxoma. H&E stain.Atrial myxoma covered by endothelium. H&E stain. A myxoma is a rare benign tumor of the heart. Myxomas are the most common primary cardiac tumor in adults, and are most commonly found within the left atrium. Myxomas may also develop in the other heart chambers. The tumor is derived from multipotent mesenchymal cells. Myxomas are the most common type of adult primary heart tumor. Most myxomas arise sporadically (90%), and only about 10% are thought to arise due to inheritance. About 10% of myxomas are inherited, as in Carney syndrome. Such tumors are called familial myxomas. They tend to occur in more than one part of the heart at a time, and often cause symptoms at a younger age than other myxomas. Other abnormalities are observed in people with Carney syndrome include skin myxomas, pigmentation, endocrine hyperactivity, schwannomas and epithelioid blue nevi. Myxomas are more common in women than men.