ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Atrial myxomas are the most common primary cardiac neoplasm. The majority (75%-80%) are located in the left atrium at the base of the foramen ovalis. Surgical removal can prevent dangerous obstructive or thromboembolic sequelae. HYPOTHESIS: Atypically located tumors may present technical challenges requiring case-specific surgical adaptations when visualization or surrounding cardiac structures are compromised. METHODS: We describe 3 cases of atypically located atrial myxomas that required preoperative transesophageal echocardiography and computed tomography to afford the optimal surgical approach. CONCLUSIONS: These cases highlight the potential need for multimodality imaging of atypically located atrial myxomas to determine the optimal technical approach for excision.
