In three patients with cardiac myxoma increased expression of interleukin 6 (IL-6) mRNA was found in the myxoma tissue by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and in situ hybridisation. These cases suggest that IL-6 is overproduced in the myxoma tissue and secreted into the systemic circulatory system. This might contribute to the systemic inflammatory or autoimmune manifestations seen in cardiac my...

This is a report of a biatrial cardiac myxoma in a young man with a 10-month history of exertional dyspnea and palpitation. The echocardiogram revealed biatrial myxoma prolapsing through the mitral and tricuspid valves during diastole. All cardiac chambers were enlarged and dysfunctional. The electrocardiogram revealed a rapid ventricular response with atrial flutter rhythm. The masses were res...

Cellular myxoma and grade I myxofibrosarcoma are mesenchymal tumours that are characterized by their abundant myxoid extracellular matrix (ECM). Despite their histological overlap, they differ clinically. Diagnosis is therefore difficult though important. We investigated their (cyto) genetics and ECM. GNAS1-activating mutations have been described in intramuscular myxoma, and lead to downstream...

We have shown previously the oncolytic potential of myxoma virus in a murine xenograft model of human glioma. Here, we show that myxoma virus used alone or in combination with rapamycin is effective and safe when used in experimental models of medulloblastoma in vitro and in vivo. Nine of 10 medulloblastoma cell lines tested were susceptible to lethal myxoma virus infection, and pretreatment of...

Objectives Although echocardiography has traditionally been used to diagnose myxoma, invasive or non-invasive coronary angiography can be useful diagnostic tool before surgery. Methods We present a case of an angiographically detected left atrial myxoma feeding from the left circumflex coronary artery. Results The patient underwent open-heart surgery to remove the left atrial myxoma. After ...

Myxoma is the most common primary tumor of the heart. It is uncommon for these tumors to become infected and, at times, clinical presentation is no different from that of an uninfected myxoma. We describe the case of a 58-year-old woman with a previous pharyngeal infection that developed into infection of a left atrial myxoma and which was complicated by systemic embolism affecting the lower li...

Intra-cardiac tumors are rare with estimated prevalence in autopsy series of 0.02%. Atrial myxoma is the most common primary cardiac tumor. The diagnosis can be challenging and high index of suspicion is required for prompt diagnosis and recognition, as symptoms and signs are nonspecific. Atrial myxoma is one of the few emergency diagnoses in cardiac surgery that require urgent consultation and...

A 59-year-old woman with a left atrial myxoma was shown to have moderate aortic regurgitation. At operation for removal of the myxoma it was found to be attached to the atrial septum close to the aortic root. It is suggested that the aortic regurgitation was caused by distortion of the aortic root caused by traction upon it from the myxoma as it moved downward into the left ventricle in diastol...

Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) play important roles in antiviral innate immunity by producing type I interferon (IFN). In this study, we assess the immune responses of primary human pDCs to two poxviruses, vaccinia and myxoma virus. Vaccinia, an orthopoxvirus, was used for immunization against smallpox, a contagious human disease with high mortality. Myxoma virus, a Leporipoxvirus, causes ...

Background: Repeated intracranial hemorrhages caused by cardiac myxoma is very rare. It is essential for physicians to be aware of such uncommon clinical feature of myxoma. Case presentation: We report a-49-year-old female patient complained of repeated multiple intracranial hemorrhages, with no sign of cardiac dysfunction or cerebral infarction before admission. Cavernous angioma (CA) was misd...