A rare cause of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: Mass in the left atrium

Abstract

A 57-year-old female with no known comorbidities presented to us with complaints of exertional dyspnea New York Heart Association Class II and occasional gray out. Clinical examination was unremarkable. Outpatient 12-lead electrocardiogram showed atrial fibrillation (AF) with fast ventricular rate. Transthoracic echocardiogram revealed a mass in the left atrium. The patient was advised to undergo surgical excision of the mass. The patient underwent the surgery. Her rhythm reverted back to sinus rhythm. Histopathology revealed the mass to be petrified cardiac myxoma. This case is unique because patients with atrial myxoma presenting with AF are rare, and petrified cardiac myxoma is a rare histological variety.

Keywords

• Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation
• petrified cardiac myxoma
• transthoracic echocardiography