Echocardiographic characteristics
Based on preoperative echocardiographic findings, the 53 operated
patients were divided into two groups: a CM group (45 patients, 85%)
and a NM group (8 patients, 15%). Preoperative echocardiographic
characteristics are depicted in Table I. All tumors were solitary. The
mean tumor size in the CM group was 35.3±18.6 mm (range: 10–81 mm). The
majority of CM were located in the atria; 80% in the left atrium and
18% in the right atrium. One tumor was found in the left ventricle.
Tumors found in the left atrium were most frequently attached to the
atrial septum in the region of the fossa ovalis (n=27, 75%) (Figure 1).
Other attachment sites in the left atrium included the mitral valve
(n=4, two were attached to the posterior leaflet, one to the anterior
leaflet, and one to the posterior annulus of the mitral valve), other
areas of the atrial septum (n=3, posterior part of the atrial septum),
the free atrial wall (n=1) and left atrial appendage (n=1). The tumors
were mostly mobile (n=32, 71%). Mitral valve obstruction was observed
in 10 (22%) patients and tricuspid valve obstruction in 1 (2%)
patient.
The mean tumor size in the NM group was 30.3±16.9 mm (range: 8–50 mm)
(Table I). All NM tumors were found in an atypical location, most
frequently in the right atrium (n=4, 50%). Two were attached to the
left atrial free wall or posterior mitral valve leaflet and one to the
aortic valve.