Cardiac Myxomas

To the Editor: Reynen (Dec. 14 issue) 1 provides an extensive and informative review of cardiac myxomas. He points out that myxomas are histologically benign but may be lethal because of their strategic position. He further states that the malignant potential of cardiac myxomas remains doubtful. A few malignant atrial myxomas have been reported, however. 2 , 3 We describe a cardiac left atrial tumor that resembled malignant myxoma clinically and grossly. An 18-year-old woman presented with fever, joint pain, and a diastolic murmur. She was treated for rheumatoid arthritis, but signs of increased intracranial pressure developed 16 months later. Radiologic studies revealed . . .