Right ventricular myxoma: review of the literature and report of two patients.

The cases of 2 patients with right ventricular myxoma are reported, together with a review of the literature. In both patients the ultimate diagnosis was reached by means of angiocardiography, which revealed large filling defects in the right ventricle. In 1 patient, cardiac catheterization failed to record a transpulmonary gradient. Echocardiography, performed after hemodynamic investigation in both patients, revealed the usual pattern of abnormal echoes moving from the right ventricular cavity to the right outflow tract during the cardiac cycle. In both patients the tumor was successfully excised through a right atrial approach. This approach was preferred to the right ventriculotomy because it provides adequate surgical exposure, avoids undue trauma to the ventricular myocardium, and offers an easy way for inspection of the left heart.