[Atrial myxomas of the heart; diagnosis, therapy and morphology (author's transl)].

Atrial myxomas imitate several other clinical entities. The intravital diagnosis may still appear as a surprise. Myxomas can present themselves in 2 ways: by obstruction of intracardiac blood flow and by embolization. Early diagnosis should be established by utilizing angiography. Immediate resection under total cardiopulmonary bypass should be performed before catastrophic complications occur.