Left atrial myxoma with severe inflammatory response

A 59-year-old man was admitted for intermittent fever. His temperature was 38 degrees C, white blood cell counts 19,800/mm3, C-reactive protein 17.9 mg/dL. Interleukin 6 (IL-6) serum level was 31.0 pg/mL. Transesophageal echocardiography showed a 6 x 4 cm left atrial tumor arising from the atrial septum. We strongly suspected that left atrial myxoma caused the fever. The tumor was excised with the aid of cardiopulmonary bypass. Tumor histology was typical of a cardiac myxoma. The serum IL-6 level decreased rapidly in postoperative two weeks (5.3 pg/mL). In this patient, IL-6 plasma level might be used as a marker of recurrence.