Usefulness of coronary angiography in patients with left atrial myxoma

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to determine the frequency of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients >40 years of age with left atrial (LA) myxoma. We analyzed patients diagnosed with LA myxoma who underwent coronary angiography over a 23-year period at Baylor University Medical Center. CAD was found in 14 of the 17 patients (82%), 7 of whom underwent coronary artery bypass grafting at the time of excision of the myxoma. Cardiac catheterization identified vascularity in the LA myxoma in 9 of the 17 patients (53%), with complete angiographic definition of the myxoma in 3. Coronary angiography demonstrated associated CAD and prompted coronary artery bypass grafting in 7 of the 17 patients at the time of excision of the myxoma. Coronary angiography also provided data regarding the vascular supply to the myxoma, which may aid in surgical planning. In conclusion, we believe coronary angiography is warranted in patients >40 years of age with LA myxomas.

Keywords:

• Cardiac myxoma
• coronary angiography
• coronary artery disease

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank Mr. Jose F. Velasco for his editorial assistance, and Dr. Anele Hundae and Ms. Jong Ko for their contribution to the data collection.