Summary
Definition
History and exam
Key diagnostic factors
- presence of risk factors
- dyspnoea
- syncope
- dizziness
- CHF/pulmonary oedema
- embolic manifestations
- systolic or diastolic murmur
- tumour plop
Other diagnostic factors
- weight loss
- fatigue
- fever
- pallor
- arthralgia
- Raynaud's phenomenon
- loud first heart sound
- opening snap
- Carney's complex
Risk factors
- family history of atrial myxoma
- female sex
- age 40-60 years
Diagnostic investigations
1st investigations to order
- echocardiogram
- ECG
- FBC
- CXR
Investigations to consider
- erythrocyte sedimentation rate
- C-reactive protein
- protein electrophoresis
- CT scan (chest)
- MRI scan (chest)
- biopsy
Treatment algorithm
surgical candidate
non-surgical candidate
Contributors
Authors
Syed Wamique Yusuf, MBBS, FRCPI

Professor of Medicine
Department of Cardiology
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston
TX
Disclosures
SWY is Co-Director of the American College of Cardiology Cardiovascular Board Review Course, at which he also delivers lectures.
Acknowledgements
Dr Syed Wamique Yusuf would like to gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Dr Daniel J. Lenihan. DJL declares that he has no competing interests.
Peer reviewers
Paul Heidenreich, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
Stanford University
Stanford
CA
Disclosures
PH declares that he has no competing interests.
Richard Steingart, MD
Chief
Cardiology Service
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
New York
NY
Disclosures
RS declares that he has no competing interests.
Barry Kneale, MD, FRCP
Integrated Lead Cardiologist
Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust and Cardiac Department
Worthing Hospital
Worthing
UK
Disclosures
BK declares that he has no competing interests.
Differentials
- Mitral stenosis
- Infective endocarditis
- Atrial thrombus
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