[Long-term results of surgical treatment of cardiac myxomas].

We have reviewed our clinical experience in the diagnosis and management of 50 cases of cardiac myxoma seen over a 20 year period, 1974 to 1994. There were 17 males and 33 females, their ages ranged from 16 to 81 years (mean 55.2 years). Echocardiography confirmed the diagnosis in all patients. The location of myxomas was as follows: left atrial alone in 42 patients, right atrial alone in 3, right ventricular alone in 1, left + right atrial in 2, left + right atrial + right ventricular in 1, and left atrial eft ventricular in 1. Nineteen patients were operated on within 48 hours following the diagnosis. All tumors were successfully removed with the aid of cardiopulmonary bypass. The hospital mortality rate was 10%. Excision of the tumor resulted in marked symptomatic improvement. There was one late death. The current survivors are asymptomatic at a mean follow-up of 76,4 months (range 1-241 months). Echocardiographic studies were performed in all survivors and no recurrences have been observed. We conclude that excision of cardiac myxomas is curative and long-term survival is excellent. Radical tumor excision may prevent recurrence.