A survivor of near sudden death caused by giant left atrial myxoma.

Sudden hemodynamic collapse occurred in a 20-year-old man after an Emergency Department visit with a complaint of dizziness and chest discomfort. A left atrial myxoma was demonstrated by echocardiography. Resuscitation procedures followed by surgical repair resulted in an excellent outcome. Although sudden death is a serious manifestation of cardiac myxoma, reports of survivors of near sudden death caused by this tumor have been rare.