LEFT ATRIAL LEIOMYOSARCOMA - A CASE TREAT ED SURGICALLY AND A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

The authors report a case of left atrial leiomyosarcoma presenting wit h systemic disturbances and retinal emboli diagnosed by echocardiograp hy and surgery in a 59 year old woman. Surgical ablation was completed by a course of chemotherapy. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of sarcoma; although the patient remained generally well , severe mitral regurgitation appeared 21 months after surgery. Transo esophageal echocardiography revealed an abnormal, hyper-mobile, intra- atrial echo suggesting a ruptured chordae tendinae and the mitral valv es appeared very thickened and retracted. The patient was reoperated a nd the mitral valve replaced with a bioprosthesis. After a total follo w-up of 29 months, the patients is still alive and asymptomatic. The a uthors underline the importance of echocardiography in the diagnosis o f intra-cardiac tumours in general and, in particular, of intra-cardia c sarcomas.