Left atrial myxomas: correlation of two-dimensional and live three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography with the clinical and pathologic findings.

BACKGROUND

Although transthoracic echocardiography and two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) identify cardiac myxomas with high sensitivity, anatomic and morphologic information is often incomplete. Real-time three-dimensional (3D) TEE is increasingly being used in general clinical practice. However, the use of real-time 3D TEE for the assessment of atrial myxomas has not been described.

METHODS

This case series of 10 patients with left atrial myxomas undergoing two-dimensional and real-time 3D TEE.

RESULTS

Correlative pathologic findings demonstrate that 3D imaging accurately identifies these tumors and provides detailed morphologic description of the tumors, which may have clinical importance.

CONCLUSIONS

Because the 3D TEE is real time and can be performed preoperatively in the operating room, the surgeon may gain a better understanding of the nature and location of the tumor.