Cardiac Myxoma — EECC MCQ

Instant feedback + full explanation. One question, done properly.

EasyGeneral CardiologyCardiac MyxomaEECC

A 50-year-old woman presents with progressive breathlessness and is found to have a large left atrial mass on echocardiography. The mass is pedunculated, arises from the interatrial septum at the fossa ovalis, and is mobile with diastolic prolapse through the mitral valve. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: B — Left atrial myxoma

Left atrial myxoma is the most common primary cardiac tumour (50% of all primary cardiac tumours). Classic features include: pedunculated mass, attachment to the interatrial septum at the fossa ovalis (75% of cases), mobility with diastolic prolapse through the mitral valve causing intermittent obstruction. Clinical features include constitutional symptoms (fever, weight loss, elevated ESR from IL-6 production), embolic events (stroke, peripheral embolisation), and obstructive symptoms mimicking mitral stenosis (position-dependent 'tumour plop'). Surgical excision is curative with low recurrence (<5% for sporadic cases). Carney complex (familial myxoma syndrome) should be considered in young patients or those with recurrent/multiple myxomas.

Reference: ESC Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine; ESC Position Paper on Cardiac Tumours