The surgical treatment of 30 patients with cardiac myxomas: A comparison of clinical features according to morphological classification

Thirty patients with cardiac myxomas whose main clinical symptoms included congestive heart failure, tachyarrhythmia, chest pain and emboli, were successfully treated with surgery. The cardiac myxomas were found in the left atrium in 23 patients, the right atrium in 6, and the right ventricle in 1. Complete follow-up was conducted from 1 month to 15 years (mean 5.4 years) on 28 patients, 24 of whom were in New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class I, and 2 of whom were in NYHA Class II. The actuarial survival rate was 89% 15 years after surgery and no recurrent myxomas have been identified clinically or by echocardiography in any of the patients. Thus, an aggressive surgical approach is recommended prior to the development of heart failure or other complications whenever cardiac tumors are detected.