Causes Left Atrial Myxoma
- Myxomas are tumors that develop right in the heart. It is a rare occurrence. The good news is that these types of tumors are benign.
- About 3/4 of these tumors occur in the left atrial part of the heart. The remaining 25% occur either in the middle of the two upper levels of the heart or in the right atrium.
- Causes of myxomas are strongly genetic.
- These non-cancerous tumors can pose a severe threat for clots if the tumor breaks up and becomes stuck in any main blood vessels. It can be an emergency situation and a matter of life and death.
Left Atrial Myxoma Symptoms
- Symptoms of left atrial myxoma seem to arise when a change in positioning is made. There may difficulty with breathing when lying in a flat, supine position.
- Breathing is difficult with any physical activity
- The chest may have a lot of tightness and pressure.
- Some people who report it, they feel like their heart is racing, or a feeling that it might jump out of their chest. It is an uncomfortable situation no matter how you look at it.
Left Atrial Myxoma Treatment
Treatment for Left Atrial Myxoma requires removal of the tumor, and depending on where it is located, may require one of the major valves in the heart to need replaced.
Left Atrial Myxoma Surgery
- Surgery is geared toward removing all parts of this growth. If successful, there may be no further problems.
- If any part of the growth is left in the heart, the tumor can spread or pose threats with embolisms.
Pieces of the tumor can also travel to the eyes or brain and cause serious complications