[Problems in differential diagnosis and therapy of intracardiac space-occupying lesions--myxoma and thrombus].

The total removal of the myxoma under extracorporeal circulation from the origin maintains the optimal surgical treatment. Differentiation between myxoma and thromboses is a problem of preoperative diagnostics. Both tumors show unspecific symptoms. Therefore echocardiography and angiography are required as diagnostic tools. Between 1984 and 1991, 14 patients were cured from intracardiac tumors in the Clinic for Cardiovascular Surgery of the University of Leipzig. Problems in the sensitivity and security of the preoperative diagnostics and certain aspects of the surgical treatment will be discussed.