Right atrial myxoma with glandular differentiation: A rare entity in pediatric age group

10× single-cell sequencing revealed cellular composition heterogeneity in cardiac myxoma with malignant glandular properties

Cardiac myxoma is the most common primary cardiac tumor in adults. The histogenesis and cellular composition of myxoma are still unclear. This study aims to reveal the role of myxoma cell components and their gene expression in tumor development. We obtained single living cells by enzymatic digestion of tissues from 4 cases of surgically resected cardiac myxoma. Of course, there was 1 case of glandular myxoma and 3 cases of nonglandular myxoma. Then, 10× single-cell sequencing was performed. We identified 12 types and 11 types of cell populations in glandular myxoma and nonglandular myxoma, respectively. Heterogeneous epithelial cells are the main components of glandular myxoma. The similarities and differences in T cells in both glandular and nonglandular myxoma were analyzed by KEGG and GO. The most important finding was that there was active communication between T cells and epithelial cells. These results clarify the possible tissue occurrence and heterogeneity of cardiac myxoma and provide a theoretical basis and guidance for clinical diagnosis and treatment.

Unusual aspects of cardiac myxoma

A cardiac myxoma may manifest as miscellaneous and uncharacteristic presentations. These unusual aspects of cardiac myxomas can be rare clinical presentations, special patient populations, unusual locations, and special pathology, which may lead to a delayed diagnosis, improper checkups, and subsequent untimely treatment, eventually resulting in unexpected poor prognosis. Therefore, the diagnosis of cardiac myxomas can be challenging because of these unusual aspects. In order to get a better understanding of a cardiac myxoma and to facilitate an early diagnosis and proper treatment, the unusual aspects of cardiac myxomas are described here.

Cardiac myxoma: clinical characteristics, surgical intervention, intra-operative challenges and outcome

OBJECTIVE

The objectives of this retrospective study were to characterize the clinical presentation, diagnostic findings, surgical approaches, intra-operative challenges and complications following the surgical treatment of cardiac myxoma in two of the largest referral hospitals in Jordan.

METHODS

Medical records of all patients presented to the cardiology department during the period between 1984 and 2016 were reviewed. Criteria for inclusion in the study were: (1) patients who were presented for cardiac evaluation due to symptoms suggestive of a primary cardiac problem, (2) completed medical records, including results of echocardiography suggestive of intra-cardiac occupying mass, (3) the surgical operation was undertaken and intra-operative data was available, (4) a histological diagnosis of myxoma was available and (5) the discharge status and follow-up data were available for at least 2 years after initial surgery.

RESULTS

A total of 27 patients fulfilled the criteria for inclusion in the study. The average age was 42 years. Thirteen of the patients were females and 14 patients were males. The most common clinical presentations were dyspnea (29.6%) and murmurs (22.2%). Non-specific signs, such as weight loss, fever, fatigue, arthralgia and anemia, were reported in 10 (37%) patients. Signs related to systemic embolization were reported in 9 (33.3%) of the patients, involving the upper and lower extremities (55.6%), brain ischemia and vision loss (54.4%). Tumors in all patients were successfully resected under cardiopulmonary bypass support. The tumor was pedunculated in 17 (62.9%) of the patients and the size of the tumors varied from 1 to 7 centimeters in diameter. The tumor was located in the left atrium in 21 patients (77.7%), in the right atrium in 4 patients (14.8%), in the right ventricular side of the septum in 1 patient (3.7%) and involving the tricuspid valve in 1 patient (3.7%). The left atrial approach was used in 3 patients, a right atrial approach in 4 patients and a bi-atrial approach in 20 patients. The most common concomitant cardiac pathology was coronary artery disease in 3 patients and an atrial septal defect in one patient. The most common intra-operative challenges were inter-atrial communication (2 patients), large defect in the tricuspid valve leaflet (1 patient) and involvement of the inter-ventricular septum (1 patient). In the post-operative period, 1 patient suffered a stroke. In the post-operative period, the most common complications were stroke (1 patient) and recurrence of the tumor (2 patients).

CONCLUSION

The success rate after surgical removal of cardiac myxoma in this study was substantial and complications were rare.

Extracardiac manifestations of atrial myxomas

Primary cardiac tumors are extremely rare and constitute only about 5% of all cardiac tumors. Cardiac myxomas are noncancerous primary tumors of the heart and constitute about of 50% of all primary heart tumors. Left-sided atrial myxomas are more common than right-sided atrial myxomas. Atrial myxomas can lead to a triad of complications. The most common symptoms are associated with obstruction due to the size and location of the tumor. The next most common symptoms are associated with pulmonary and systemic embolization. Patients may also present with constitutional symptoms. Diagnosis is made via means of transesophageal echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging. Early diagnosis and surgical resection remain the treatment of choice to prevent complications. Patients usually have a good prognosis after resection.

Atrial Myxoma: A Case Presentation and Review

Myxomas are the most common primary cardiac tumors, most frequently found in the left atrium. We present a case of an atrial myxoma. An in-depth review of atrial myxoma is presented, examining the important clinical symptoms and diagnostic indicators. The treatment of atrial myxoma is then discussed, with an emphasis on current therapies. An extensive literature review has been performed to present a comprehensive review of the causes, pathophysiology of atrial myxoma.