Radiological characteristics of atrial myxoma in Cardiac Computed Tomography.

BACKGROUND: Although the primary role of Cardiac Computed Tomography (CCT) is assessment of the coronary arteries, the technique also allows detailed examination of cardiac structures and other cardiac pathologies including cardiac myxoma. However, limited data exists regarding the CCT characteristics of cardiac myxoma.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the radiological characteristics of a series of cardiac myxomas in CCT.

METHODS: We retrospectively identified all patients at our tertiary urban referral centre with cardiac myxoma on CCT over a seven-year period between July 2008 and July 2015. We describe the CCT characteristics of eight cases. Seven of them had histologically documented myxoma after surgical removal, while one patient had a lesion suggestive of myxoma on echocardiography and CCT.

RESULTS: Eight patients were diagnosed with cardiac myxoma, comprising five females and three males. Seven of eight myxomas were located in the left atrium and one in the right atrium. Seven myxomas were polypoid in shape and one myxoma was villous. The average size was 22 × 26 mm. Calcification was present in half of the myxomas and average attenuation was 74 ± 46 Hounsfield Units.

CONCLUSION: CCT has an important role in assessment of cardiac structures. This series highlights the radiological characteristics of cardiac myxoma.