Right atrial mass after open heart surgery: tumour or thrombus?

Detection of a rapidly growing mass in the right atrium during routine inter-echocardiogram follow-up period in two patients after corrective open-heart surgery raises concerns about nature of the mass and the probable cause. One turned out to be an atrial myxoma that grew rapidly over a eight month period and the other a well encapsulate thrombus in a fully anticoagulated patient. Preoperative transthoracic echocardiogram had reported both the cases to be a myxoma. This article highlights the importance of considering rare causes in the face of a seemingly obvious diagnosis and possible use of imaging modalities in the management of these cases. (Heart, Lung and Circulation 2012;21:287-288) (C) 2011 Australian and New Zealand Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons (ANZSCTS) and the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.