Management of cardiac myxoma during pregnancy: A case series and review of the literature

Cardiac myxomas are the most common primary benign tumors of the heart. The reported incidence during pregnancy is extremely low with only 17 reported cases in the medical literature. Standard therapy involves surgical resection given the potential for embolization. In the pregnant patient, however, the risks of embolization must be balanced against the risk of cardiopulmonary bypass to the mother and the fetus. We present two cases of cardiac myxoma diagnosed during pregnancy and review the presentation and management strategies of previously reported cases. In conclusion, successful surgical resection of the myxomas during pregnancy was performed in both of our cases. Given the rarity of cases, individual multidisciplinary assessment and management strategies are essential. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.