A balloon-like cardiac myxoma mimicking a blood-filled cyst.
Xiaofang Zhong, Shuyu Luo, Lixin Chen et al.
✦ AI-curated · Sources linked
Case in brief
A 54-year-old woman presented with exertional dyspnea, chest tightness, and intermittent dizziness. Initial evaluations were unremarkable. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed a balloon-like cystic mass in the left atrium, resembling a blood-filled cyst. Further imaging with transesophageal echocardiography confirmed its unique features, leading to successful surgical resection, which confirmed the diagnosis of cystic cardiac myxoma.
What made this case unusual
The balloon-like cystic myxoma exhibited distinct anatomical and hemodynamic characteristics, including a unique arterial inflow and outflow orifice, which are atypical for this type of tumor.
Diagnostic / clinical pearl
Clinicians should consider cystic cardiac myxoma in differential diagnoses for cardiac masses, especially when imaging reveals unusual features that mimic other conditions.
Why it matters
Understanding the unique presentation of cystic myxomas can aid in accurate diagnosis and management, preventing misinterpretation as other cardiac lesions.