From the Guidelines
A left atrial myxoma typically presents with middiastolic or presystolic murmurs similar to those heard in mitral stenosis 1.
Auscultation Findings
- The murmurs are usually due to the tumor's obstruction of blood flow through the mitral valve 1
- These murmurs can be similar to those heard in tricuspid or mitral stenosis, making diagnosis based on auscultation alone challenging 1
- A characteristic low-pitched, rumbling diastolic murmur, often referred to as a "tumor plop," may be heard at the apex due to the tumor's movement into the mitral valve orifice during diastole
- The murmur may be accompanied by a mid-diastolic click and its intensity can vary with changes in body position
- Administration of vasodilators may accentuate the murmur, aiding in diagnosis 1
From the Research
Auscultation Findings of a Left Atrial Myxoma
- There are no direct research papers to assist in answering this question regarding the specific auscultation findings of a left atrial myxoma.
- However, studies have investigated various heart conditions and their associated auscultation findings, such as diastolic murmurs in non-obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy 2, diastolic sounds and murmurs associated with mitral valve prolapse 3, and the etiology of the Austin Flint murmur 4.
- Other studies have examined systolic murmurs radiating from the apex of the heart to the neck 5 and anterior crackles as a neglected sign in cardiac patients 6.
- These studies provide insight into the complexities of heart sounds and murmurs, but do not specifically address the auscultation findings of a left atrial myxoma.