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GuideWisdom™

This WisdomCard managed by: Nicole Kinsey

An atrial myxoma is a non-cancerous tumor in the upper left or right side of the heart. It grows on the wall (atrial septum) that separates the two sides of the heart. Symptoms may occur at any time, but most often they accompany a change of body position. Symptoms may include: shortness of breath with activity, breathing difficulty when lying flat, breathing difficulty when asleep, dizziness, fainting, sensation of feeling your heart beat (palpitations), chest pain or tightness. ...read more at Wikipedia

Fast Facts:

• --Some tests to diagnose Atrial Myxoma are: echocardiogram, doppler study, chest x-ray, CT scan of chest, heart MRI.¹
• --Treatment includes surgical removal of the tumor, and in some patients, replacement of the mitral valve.²
• --Myxomas are more common in women.³

5 Great Resources on Atrial Myxoma

• eMedicine: Atrial Myxoma
• UpToDate: Atrial Myxoma (Cardiac Tumors)
• eCureMe: Atrial Myxoma Description
• A.D.A.M. (via MedlinePlus): Atrial Myxoma
• Department of Radiology at Brigham and Women's Hospital: Right Atrial Myxoma

What is Atrial Myxoma?

• Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine (via HealthAtoZ): Altrial Myxoma
• Pathweb: Atrial Myxoma
• The Merck Manuals: Myxomas

What Are The Symptoms of Atrial Myxoma?

• Stedman's Medical Dictionary: (via Drugs.com): Atrial Myxoma and its Symptoms
• eMedicine: Clinical Presentation of Primary Cardiac Neoplasms
• Wikipedia: Symptoms of Atrial Myxoma

What Are The Causes and Complications of Atrial Myxoma?

• A.D.A.M. (via MedlinePlus): Possible Complications
• Canadian Medical Association Journal: Atrial Myxoma as a Cause of Stroke
• Wikipedia: Cardiac Arrhythmia
• Wikipedia: Pulmonary Edema

What Is The Treatment for and Prevention of Atrial Myxoma?

• Wikipedia: Atrial Myxoma Treatment
• Cleveland Clinic: Robotically Assisted Heart Surgery: Intracardiac Tumor: Atrial Myxoma
• A.D.A.M. (via Drugs.com): Prevention

What Are The Types, Stages and Survival Rates of Atrial Myxoma?

• Wikipedia: Atrial Myxoma Prognosis
• The Merck Manuals: Treatment and Prognosis

Wisdom, Blogs, and Message Boards about Atrial Myxoma

• Heart Disease Symptoms and What Causes Heart Disease: An Overview of Atrial Myxoma
• MedHelp: Atrial Myxoma Posts

Scientific and Medical Journal Articles on Atrial Myxoma

• JAMA: Archives of Atrial Myxoma Research
• Google Scholar: Atrial Myxoma Articles
• PubMed Central: Articles on Atrial Myxoma

Clinical Trials on Atrial Myxoma

• ClinicalTrials.gov: (Atrial) Myxoma search results

Related WisdomCards

• Heart Disease
• Angina
• Atrial Fibrillation
• Medical Tests to Check for Heart Disease
• Arrhythmia
• Mitral Valve Prolapse
• Atrial flutter
• Atrial Septal Defect

GuideWisdom and Fast Facts References

1. ↑ eCureMe: Tests
2. ↑ A.D.A.M. (via MedlinePlus): Atrial Myxoma Treatment
3. ↑ Merck Manuals: Classification

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