Time relationships in the diagnosis and treatment of left-atrial myxoma.

The records of 40 patients, 28 females and 12 males with a median age of 49 years (range 13-80 years), undergoing excision of left-atrial myxoma at 3 London hospitals during a 21-year period were reviewed. The urgency of treatment is discussed, and the interval between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis (median 38 weeks), and also between diagnosis and surgery (< 48 hours) is considered.