# Point-of-care Ultrasound Diagnosis of Cardiac Myxoma

## TL;DR

A case study shows how point-of-care ultrasound in the emergency department helped diagnose a rare heart tumor called a cardiac myxoma.

## Contribution

Demonstrates the utility of point-of-care ultrasound in the emergency setting for diagnosing cardiac myxoma.

## Key findings

- POCUS identified a left atrial mass in a patient with dyspnea and hematemesis.
- Surgical excision confirmed the diagnosis of cardiac myxoma.
- Early detection via POCUS enabled timely treatment.

## Abstract

Cardiac myxomas are rare benign tumors of the heart that can become clinically relevant due to cardiovascular effects. Diagnosis can be challenging due to non-specific presenting symptoms. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) provides a convenient first-line screening modality.

A 65-year-old male with a history of tobacco use presented to the emergency department (ED) with a month of progressive dyspnea with exertion and hematemesis. Cardiac POCUS and pulmonary computed tomography with angiography revealed a left atrial mass consistent with a cardiac atrial myxoma. The patient underwent coronary artery bypass grafting with excision of the left atrial myxoma via right atriotomy and atrial septal defect repair.

Presented is a case of a patient presenting with progressive dyspnea diagnosed with a cardiac myxoma using POCUS in the ED. Cardiac myxomas have a wide variety of clinical presentations, and emergency physicians must maintain a high index of suspicion. Point-of-care-ultrasound is well suited for early diagnosis of this unique pathology. Surgical resection and tumor histopathology remain the mainstay of treatment.