Excision of a left atrial myxoma in the presence of a calcified ascending aorta: a surgical challenge.

Atrial myxomas are rare tumors that require surgical excision. However, in the presence of a severely calcified ascending aorta, such excision becomes rather challenging and difficult. Here we report a case of a left atrial myxoma in a 64-year-old woman with an extensively calcified aorta that was successfully excised using cardiopulmonary bypass beating-heart technique without the need for cardioplegic cardiac arrest and aortic cross-clamping. The use of this technique proved useful with no increased risk incurred to the patient.