Real Time Two Dimensional Echocardiography In The • Diagnosis Of Left Atrial Myxoma

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Echocardiography (1-8) is an established screening procedure in cases of suspected left atrial myxoma. Generally M mode echocardiog raphy is adequate either to confirm or to rule out the presence of an atrial myxoma though falsely negative or atypical (9-12-15) findings have been reported with M mode study. 2 D echo has been used (13-16) to diagnose left atrial myxoma and has distinct advantages over M mode echocardiographyas well as other investigative techniques. DISCUSSON: Because of the infrequent occurrence and the nonspecific signs and symptoms, the clinical diagnosis of atrial myxomas was rare prior to the advent of echocardiography (17-18). Echocardiography has changed the status of these tumours from unsuspected surgical surprise or pathological findings to readily diagnosed entities. In conclusion, the 2 D echocardiographic technique provides detailed information and is at present the best technique to diagnose cardiac turnurs.