Cas du 23/03/2015: Title: On the LAM

Presentation: A patient presented with a cough and a new murmur.

#1: What is your diagnosis?
#2: Explain the echocardiographic signs of your diagnosis?
#3: Discuss the clinical presentation of this diagnosis?



















Explanation: The loops show a left atrial myxoma (LAM).  LAM are round or oval masses that may be undulating and appear with a ground glass texture.  LAM are mobile and are attached to the left atrium, sometimes by a stalk.  LAM can occur just about anywere in the atrium and TV/MV leaflets.

The clinical presentation is usually a CVA, TIA, palpitations, shortness of breath, dyspnea, ventricular failure, syncope, or chest pain.  The LAM is usually benign but can be cancerous.  Acute hemorrhage into the LAM has ocurred and cause acute occlusion of the MV. Atrial myxomas can be single or multiple, can occur in multiple locations in a single atrium or in both atria.