Introduction. Primary heart tumors are very rare. They can be benign and
malignant. Benign ones make about two thirds of all heart tumors. However,
they are benign only by their biologic characteristics, but potentially
malignant by their localization. About three forths of benign tumors are
myxomas. Their growth is usually slow and they can be for a long time silent,
particularly if they do not compromise vital functional parts of the heart.
Myxomas grow in the atria, mostly in the left one and very rarely in the
ventricles. Case report. We presented two patients with myxomas in the left,
and, in the right atrium which are representative samples of the most common
localization of heart myxoma considering previous knowledge of these tumors.
Analysis of the clinical course in the two presented patients with
characteristic localizations showed general characteristics of the clinical
course of heart myxoma. The patients did not have characteristic symptoms for
a rather long period of time and the findings obtained by standard
examinations did not raise suspicion of heart tumor. Pulmonary symptomatology
in one patient and cardial in the other, when tumor had already occupied
almost the entire atrium, suggested necessity of cardiologic examination.
Indication for operation was in both patients confirmed after performed
echocardiography, computed tomography of the thorax and angiography with
ventriculography. The size of the removed atrial tumors and their
localization explained some of the patients' troubles, but it was also
amazing that they had not caused more serious problems. Operation as the only
method of treatment was successful in both female patients and its effect was
permanent. At annual controls neither recurrence of the tumor nor troubles
possibly associated with it were observed. Conclusion. Patients with heart
myxoma usually pass through asymptomatic or oligosymptomatic phase, but when
troubles become manifested, they do not much differ from those due to other
causes. For this reason this tumor can be diagnosed just when complications
caused by its localization and growth develop. Modern cardiologic
diagnostics, primarily preventive non-invasive echocardiography, enables
timely diagnosis and removal of the tumor because only then it may take a
name benign tumor.