A Case of Left Atrial Myxoma Diagnosed on Routine Preoperative Evaluation

Cardiac tumors are very rare and myxoma is the most common primary cardiac tumor. Cardiac myxomas frequently originate from the left atrium and predominantly affect women. We present a case of a 65-year-old male who was admitted for hernia surgery and underwent preoperative evaluation. On evaluation, he was found to have a diastolic murmur on auscultation and had a history of exercise intolerance, and a transthoracic echocardiogram was done. It revealed a large mass in the left atrium attached to the interatrial septum suggestive of left atrial myxoma. He then underwent surgical resection of the tumor. The lack of recognition of this condition by appropriate history and physical exam can lead to a delay in diagnosis and treatment and the risk of cardiovascular complications.