MYXOMA OF THE LEFT ATRIUM

Abstract

Tumours of the heart are not common. Benjamin (1939) reports the incidence of primary tumours as 0 03 per cent of 40,000 autopsies. Nearly 50 per cent of these primary tumours are myxomata or myxomatous polyps. Yater (1931) (77 cases), Mahaim (1945) (82 cases) and Pritchard (1951) (125 cases) have collected and reported cases and the number reported is probably still less than 250. Approximately 75 per cent of myxomata occur in the left atrium, while almost all the remainder are found in the right atrium. Pritchard (1951) records one myxoma arising in the left ventricle and one from the mitral valve. Young and Hunter (1947) also report a left ventricular myxoma.