Successful surgical treatment of a right atrial myxoma complicated by pulmonary embolism.

We report on a rare case of a 65-year-old woman who was admitted with orthopnea (NYHA class IV) and a single syncopal episode. A transthoracic echocardiography examination showed a 7x6x6-cm mass located in the right atrium and perfusion lung scan showed embolization. Complete surgical removal of the right atrial myxoma and tumor embolectomy was successfully performed with deep hypothermia and circulatory arrest. Histologic investigations of the primary tumor as well as the emboly revealed benign myxoma. Six months clinical and echocardiographical follow-up showed a satisfactory exercise tolerance, a normal right atrium and a good ventricular function. Thirteen years later, the patient remains well and no recurrence could be observed.