RIGHT ATRIAL-MYXOMA DEVELOPING 4 YEARS FOLLOWING PATCH CLOSURE OF AN ATRIAL SEPTAL-DEFECT - REPORT OF A CASE

We report herein the rare case of a 13-year-old boy in whom a right at rial myxoma developed 4 years following patch closure of an ostium sec undum atrial septal defect, at which time no other atrial abnormality had been observed. The myxoma arose from the atrial septum in the area between the orifices of the coronary sinus and inferior vena cava. Th e suture line was not involved. Gross and histopathological findings w ere characteristic of atrial myxoma. Atrial myxomas are usually consid ered to be slow growing neoplasms; however, this case demonstrates tha t the initial period of growth may be quite rapid in some cases.