Recurrence of an atrial myxoma.

A 22-year-old man had an operation 14 years ago for removal of a left atrial myxoma. He was admitted to our hospital because of acute femoral arterial embolism. Echocardiographic examination revealed a mobile pedunculated echodense atrial mass attached to the atrial septum. At operation, the left atrium was found to be occupied with a gelatinous pale mass attached by a stalk to the atrial septum. The tumour was extirpated along with a part of atrial septum, which was assumed to be involved in the tumour. The atrial septal defect created was closed with patch. Histopathological examination of excised material revealed typical features of a myxoma.