The use of transoesophageal echocardiography for detecting early recurrence of atrial myxoma

• Published in: International journal of cardiology Vol. 35; no. 2; pp. 235 - 239
• Main Authors: Waller, David A., Scott, Peter J., Essop, Rashid, Ettles, Duncan F., Saunders, Nigel R., Williams, Gordon J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.05.1992; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Atrial myxoma; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiac surgery; Cardiology. Vascular system; Echocardiography; Echocardiography - methods; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heart; Heart Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Heart Neoplasms - surgery; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Myxoma - diagnostic imaging; Myxoma - surgery; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local - diagnostic imaging; Tumors of the heart; Atrial myxoma; Echocardiography; Cardiac surgery; Heart; Sonography; Human; Myxoma; Cardiovascular disease; Tumor; Diagnosis; Recurrent; Ultrasonic transducer; Esophagus
• ISSN: 0167-5273; 1874-1754
• DOI: 10.1016/0167-5273(92)90182-3

A comparison between praecordial and transoesophageal cross-sectional echocardiography was undertaken in the follow-up of 14 patients who had previously undergone surgical excision of atrial myxoma. The mean interval between surgery and follow-up was 39 months. Evidence of recurrent tumour was seen in two patients by transoesophageal echocardiography but wen undetected in one of these using the praecordial approach. Clear visualisation of the atria and interatrial septum was possible in all remaining cases using transoesophageal echocardiography and this allowed confident exclusion of tumour recurrence. Using praecordial echocardiography, technically inadequate studies meant that this was not possible in 4 patients. The significant late recurrence rate of excised atrial myxomas, emphasises the need for serial, postoperative echocardiographic studies. Praecordial echocardiography may be unreliable in the detection of recurrent atrial myxoma in its early stages and for this reason transoesophageal echocardiographic follow-up is justified in high risk patients.