Methods and results
We retrospectively analyzed clinical, echocardiographic, and
pathohistological findings of 73 patients consecutively admitted for
suspected CM. After diagnostic workup, 53 (73%) patients were treated
surgically at our institution. Based on preoperative TTE, patients were
divided into a CM group (n=45, 85%) and non-myxoma (NM) group. Of the
53 pathohistological specimens obtained during surgery, 39 (73%) were
CM. The sensitivity and specificity of preoperative echocardiography
were 97% and 50%, respectively. The overall accuracy was 85%. All NM
tumors were found in an atypical location and 72% of CM were found in a
typical position in the left atrium (p<0.001). Tumors in NM
group were significantly smaller than CM (24.3±13.2 mm vs 37.9±18.3 mm,
p=0.017).