Left atrial myxomas: correlation of two-dimensional and live three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography with the clinical and pathologic findings.

BACKGROUND: Although transthoracic echocardiography and two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) identify cardiac myxomas with high sensitivity, anatomic and morphologic information is often incomplete. Real-time three-dimensional (3D) TEE is increasingly being used in general clinical practice. However, the use of real-time 3D TEE for the assessment of atrial myxomas has not been described.

METHODS: This case series of 10 patients with left atrial myxomas undergoing two-dimensional and real-time 3D TEE.

RESULTS: Correlative pathologic findings demonstrate that 3D imaging accurately identifies these tumors and provides detailed morphologic description of the tumors, which may have clinical importance.

CONCLUSIONS: Because the 3D TEE is real time and can be performed preoperatively in the operating room, the surgeon may gain a better understanding of the nature and location of the tumor.