Primary osteosarcoma of left atrium: complete surgical excision.

A patient with primary osteogenic sarcoma of the left atrium with clinical features of severe congestive heart failure is described. The operative procedure required excision of the posterior atrial wall in continuity with the left pulmonary veins. The resultant defect in the atrium was reconstructed with the left atrial appendage. The left pulmonary artery was ligated, and the lung was removed at a subsequent procedure. The patient survived operation but subsequently was found to have distant metastasis. He died seven months after the operation.