# Point of Care Ultrasound as a Key Tool in the Evaluation of a Woman with Syncope

## TL;DR

Point-of-care ultrasound quickly diagnosed a heart tumor in a woman who fainted, preventing delays in treatment.

## Contribution

Demonstrates POCUS as a rapid diagnostic tool for atrial myxoma in syncope cases.

## Key findings

- POCUS identified a left atrial mass in a patient with syncope and normal initial tests.
- Surgical resection confirmed the mass was an atrial myxoma.
- POCUS enabled timely diagnosis of a life-threatening condition.

## Abstract

Using point of care ultrasound (POCUS) to evaluate patients with syncope in the emergency department facilitates the timely diagnosis of life-threatening pathologies. Case: A 56-year-old woman presented to the emergency department of a hospital in Bogotá, Colombia, for a syncopal episode. Vital signs, physical examination, electrocardiogram, and routine laboratory tests were normal. Cardiac POCUS was performed, which identified an echogenic mass located in the left atrium, measuring 35x28mm, which in left atrial systole appeared to occupy the entire chamber. She underwent surgical resection of the mass and histopathology revealed atrial myxoma. Conclusions: POCUS was useful in the rapid diagnosis of atrial myxoma in a woman presenting with syncope.