A Right Atrial Myxoma Mimicking Pulmonary Embolism: A Case Report

Myxoma is the most common primary tumour of the heart. Approximately 75% of primary cardiac myxomas are located in the left atrium and tend to be sporadic. Myxomas are rarely asymptomatic and presenting symptoms may sometimes be confused with respiratory diseases.
A 29-year-old male patient was admitted to our outpatient clinic with shortness of breath and chest pain. In the thoracic computed tomography, which was performed for the pre-diagnosis of pulmonary embolism, a hypodense space-occupying lesion, approximately 8X4 cm in size, with irregular margins that did not show contrast enhancement in the right atrium and right ventricle, was identified. The patient, whose diagnosis of myxoma was confirmed by echocardiographic examination, underwent excision of the intracardiac mass.
The present case was deemed to be suitable for presentation since the myxoma was located in the right atrium and right ventricle, as well as to remind that an underlying cardiac pathology should be considered in patients presenting with respiratory symptoms.