Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 2001;20:848
© 2001 Elsevier Science NL
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Superior vena caval obstruction by myxoma
K.M. Krishnamoorthya,
S. Raob
a Department of Cardiology, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Puttaparthi, Andhrapradesh, India-515 134
b Department of Cardiac Surgery, Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences, Puttaparthi, Andhrapradesh, India-515 134
Received 5 February 2001;
received in revised form 20 June 2001;
accepted 21 June 2001.
Corresponding author. Tel.: +91-471-555532; fax: +91-471-446433
e-mail: saikm{at}sctimst.ker.nic.in
Key Words: Myxoma • Superior vena cava • Transoesophageal echocardiography
Transoesophageal echocardiography in a 30-year-old man with systemic venous hypertension showed a right atrial myxoma extending to superior vena cava (Fig. 1)
. Colour flow showed a trickle of venous return to superior vena cava. Injection of contrast in right arm vein showed obstruction of superior vena cava (Fig. 2) with collaterals.
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Fig. 1. Transoesophageal echocardiography showing myxoma in right atrium (RA), obstructing superior vena cava (marked as <<<); LA, left atrium.
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Fig. 2. Right arm vein injection of contrast showing superior vena caval obstruction (arrow) and collaterals.
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Arising from the right atrial side of the septum, it extended to superior vena cava. After dissecting from the walls of the vena cava, it was excised and the defect closed by dacron patch. Histology confirmed myxoma. Myxoma presenting as superior vena caval obstruction is uncommon.
