Large mass in right atrium after CABG – myxoma, adrenal metastasis or in-transit thrombus?

Br J Cardiol 2013;20:79doi:10.5837/bjc.2013.19 Leave a comment
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A 73-year-old woman, with a history of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in her legs, presented two years following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) with left internal mammary artery (LIMA), left radial artery and left cephalic vein, with a massive right atrial mass. Pre-operative work up also showed a left adrenal mass on computed tomography (CT) scan. We discuss the diagnostic possibilities within such a scenario and review the literature for right atrial masses of diverse aetiology, including right atrial myxomas, benign and malignant tumours of right atrium and right atrial thrombosis. The case is unusual on account of the concomitant history of DVT and the presence of left adrenal mass, rapid growth of the mass within two years following CABG, the atypical origin of the myxoma near inferior vena caval opening and the near total obliteration of the right atrial myxoma by rapid growth of myxoma to a massive size.

Case presentation

A 73-year-old woman presented with six-month history of progressively worsening exertional shortness of breath. The patient had previously undergone coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) two years ago for symptomatic, severe, left-sided coronary artery disease using left internal mammary artery (LIMA) graft to left anterior descending (LAD) artery, left radial artery to obtuse marginal branch of circumflex artery and left cephalic vein graft to diagonal branch of LAD artery with good symptomatic relief. The choice of conduits at the initial operation had been dictated by a history of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and varicose veins in both legs.

Figure 1. Transthoracic echocardiogram showing a large mass prolapsing through the tricuspid valve and filling the right atrium nearly completely
Figure 1. Transthoracic echocardiogram showing a large mass prolapsing through the tricuspid valve and filling the right atrium nearly completely

On examination, she had engorged neck veins but little else of note. Chest X-ray and electrocardiogram (ECG) were unremarkable. Echocardiogram showed a large right atrial mass filling up almost the whole of the right atrium, part of which prolapsed through the tricuspid valve opening during diastole. The mass seemed to arise from the inferior surface of right atrium very close to the inferior vena caval opening (figure 1). Computed tomography (CT) scan confirmed the presence of a large right atrial mass (figure 2), no secondary pulmonary emboli and a left adrenal mass (figure 3), the significance of which was unclear. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed the presence of large right atrial mass, with its origin from the inferior surface of the right atrium close to the inferior vena caval opening. Intraoperative transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) pictures were equally striking and further delineated the sheer massive size of the mass, occupying the whole of the right atrium, arising from the inferior wall of the right atrium close to the inferior vena cava and prolapsing through the tricuspid valve into the right atrium (figure 4).

After secondary median sternotomy and dissection of heart, in general, and right atrium and ascending aorta, in particular, cardiopulmonary bypass was instituted with right femoral and direct superior and inferior vena caval cannulations. Right atrium was opened by a long oblique incision, with heart beating, and the large mass visualised (figure 5).This was adherent by a broad attachment to the inferior surface of the right atrium just above the inferior vena cava. The mass was excised completely, along with its attachment to the right atrial wall with a circumferential 1 cm clearance (figure 6). Tricuspid valve and right ventricle were inspected for additional masses. Primary right atrial closure was performed and bypass terminated.

Patient made uncomplicated recovery and was discharged home in a week. Postoperative CT scan of chest was normal and did not show, in particular, any secondary lung masses. Echocardiogram of the heart showed complete clearance of the mass and no residual masses in the heart chambers. Histopathology of the mass confirmed myxoma. On six-week follow-up, patient was asymptomatic and had made good recovery.

Discussion

Myxomas

Figure 2. Computed tomography (CT) scan showing a large right atrial mass
Figure 2. Computed tomography (CT) scan showing a large right atrial mass

A right atrial mass following CABG, two years earlier, in a patient with previous history of DVT and a suspicious shadow in the left adrenal gland could be a benign tumour, a malignant primary or secondary tumour, or a thrombus.

Approximately 75% of primary cardiac tumours are benign: 50% of benign tumours are myxomas, and 10–20% of all myxomas arise from the right atrium. About 95% of myxomas arise sporadically, are more common in middle aged women, are unassociated with other abnormal conditions, do not recur after adequate excision and 80% of these have a normal DNA genotype. About 5%, in contrast, show a familial pattern of tumour development based on autosomal dominance inheritance, are present in younger patients and equally likely to present in males. They have multi-centric origin (22%), higher recurrence rates after excision (21–67%), and, in 20% of patients, associated abnormalities like testicular, pituitary, adrenocortical, breast or skin tumours or pigmented spots may be present.1 Carney complex is an inherited autosomal dominant disorder with marked familial trend, found in younger patients, comprising atypical myxomas and extracardiac involvement including pigmented skin lesions, cutaneous myxomas, adrenal cortical disease, myxoid mammary fibroadenomas, testicular tumours, pituitary adenomas, melanotic schwanommas and thyroid disease.2-4

Figure 3. Computed tomography (CT) scan showing a left adrenal mass
Figure 3. Computed tomography (CT) scan showing a left adrenal mass

Common clinical presentation of myxomas in general includes intracardiac obstruction with cardiac failure (67%), thromboembolism (29%), and constitutional and immunological symptoms (22%), with most patients having multiple symptoms. Grossly, two-thirds of myxomas are relatively compact and polypoid and unlikely to fragment spontaneously,5 while the other one-third are gelatinous and fragile and, thus, prone to fragmentation and embolisation.6 Histologically, myxomas are composed of polygonal cells with irregular, slightly hyperchromatic nuclei without mitoses, containing parallel filaments similar to the contractile components of the smooth muscle cells, seen in particular abundance in the region of fossa ovalis in the left atrium. These polygonal cells with vasoformative tendencies are found with primitive capillaries and foci of extramedullary haematopoeisis within an acid mucopolysaccharide myxoid matrix containing, in addition, reticulocytes, smooth muscle cells and elastic and collagen deposits, with, in 10% of patients, foci of calcium and metaplastic bone.7

Traditionally, myxomas have been thought to arise from the multi-potential mesenchymal cells present in the endocardium of the atrial septum in the fossa ovalis region,8 although Krikler suggested origin from endocardial sensory nerve tissue, based on identification of three neuroendocrine markers in 24 excised atrial myxomas.9 There have been increasing reports documenting the malignant potential of the myxomas with respect to local invasion of vessel wall, recurrence, independent growth and distant metastases.10-12

Right atrial myxomas demonstrate a wide spectrum of histomorphological diversity. Mallick et al. reported prominent glandular differentiation mimicking a metastatic adenocarcinoma in a 10-year-old child.13 Hwang et al. described a large, thin-walled, cystic mass filled with arterial blood arising by a broad base between superior vena cava and the appendage.14 Fox et al. reported a right atrial myxoma associated with vascular malformation supplied by the right coronary artery.15

Figure 4. Intraoperative transoesophageal echocardiogram showing the prolapsing right atrial mass
Figure 4. Intraoperative transoesophageal echocardiogram showing the prolapsing right atrial mass

While the most common site of origin continues to be the interatrial septum, as in the more common left atrial myxomas, origin from the free wall with phrenic stimulation,16 from tricuspid valve,17 and from suprahepatic vena cava associated with asplenia,18 have been described. In a comprehensive review of over 100 cases of Myxoma syndrome or Carney’s complex, Edwards et al. described the occurrence of right atrial myxomas in as many as 44%, multiple myxomas in 41% and a 20% incidence of recurrence. They recommended four-chamber examination of heart at surgery for atypical myxomas by a right atriotomy and combined superior transseptal approach, careful screening of the first-degree relatives and careful long-term follow-up.3 While a large number of right atrial myxomas may be asymptomatic, presentation with tricuspid valve obstruction,19 pulmonary embolism20 with cor pulmonale,21 Budd- Chiarri syndrome with hepatic and portal vein thrombosis and ascites,22 and, finally and unusually, with infection of the mass,23 have been described. Pulmonary embolism is a particularly dreaded complication of right atrial myxoma, and pulmonary seeding should be assiduously sought and excluded by CT scan before embarking on surgery.24,25 Canale et al. described right atrial myxoma excision and bilateral pulmonary embolectomy, utilising a brief period of circulatory arrest, in a patient presenting with tricuspid obstruction.20

Other tumours

Other benign tumours that can arise from right atrium are lipomas, lipomatous hypertrophy of interatrial septum, papillary fibroelastoma of tricuspid valve and haemangioma.26

Secondary metastatic tumours of the heart are 20 to 40 times more common than the primary malignancies,27 and almost 10% of all metastatic tumours eventually reach the heart or mediastinum.28 Although every type of malignant tumour has been known to involve the heart, leukaemia and melanoma comprised 53.9% and 34% of all metastatic disease in one large series.29 Lung cancer, sarcoma, breast cancer, oesophageal cancer, ovarian cancer and renal cancer comprised 10.2%, 9.2%, 8.3%, 7.7%, 5.7% and 5.3%, respectively, in a large series.29 Cardiac involvement by prostatic or gastrointestinal tumours, with the exception of carcinoid tumours, is rare. Carcinoid heart disease involves white fibrous deposits on the tricuspid and pulmonary valves causing predominantly tricuspid regurgitation and pulmonary stenosis in patients with primary tumours arising from the argentaffin cells of the ileum, pancreas, biliary vessels, ovary or testes, complicated by hepatic metastases.30 Lymphomas are known to involve the pericardium and not specifically the heart.29 On the other hand, in a large Chinese study of 33,108 open-heart operations and 242 cardiac tumours, all the secondary cardiac tumours were located to the right side of the heart.31 The most common mode of metastatic spread to the heart is haematogenous, although lymphatic, inferior vena caval and pulmonary venous spread and spread through direct extension of lung, oesophageal, thymic and breast tumours is well recognised. Renal, hepatic, adrenal and uterine malignancies spread into the right atrium through inferior vena cava. As many as 10% of all renal malignancies involve inferior vena cava and 40% of these invade the right atrium.32

Figure 5. Intraoperative picture showing a large dusky, purple mass filling the entire right atrium
Figure 5. Intraoperative picture showing a large dusky, purple mass filling the entire right atrium

About 25% of all primary cardiac tumours are malignant, and angiosarcomas, which have a predilection for the right heart, constitute 33% of all malignant tumours. Right atrium may also be involved by malignant mesothelioma or fibrosarcoma. Lynch et al. reported 18 right-sided tumours of the heart over a sevenyear period, out of which, 15 involved right atrium, comprising five hypernephromas, four myxomas, two angiosarcomas, and one each of lipoma, cavernous haemangioma, hepatoma and chondrosarcoma.33

Intracardiac thrombosis

Endocardial injury, stasis or turbulence of blood flow and hypercoagulability of blood are the three classical factors that predispose, in general, to intracardiac thrombosis.34 Endocardial injury may result from transmural myocardial infarcts, myocardial infections, immunological myocardial reactions, inflammatory valve disease, prosthetic heart valves with or without complications, radiation, chemotherapeutic agents, instrumentation, bacterial toxins or endotoxins and immunological insults, as in transplant rejection.34

Generally, stasis contributes more to venous thromboembolism, while turbulence predisposes to arterial and intracardiac thrombosis, but considerable overlap is seen in many clinical situations. In myocardial infarction, in addition to endocardial injury, there is an element of stasis due to failure of necrotic muscle to contract.

In mitral and tricuspid stenoses, atria empty inadequately. When atrial fibrillation supervenes, there is further stasis and turbulence and a great potential for atrial and auricular thrombosis. Hyperviscosity syndromes, like polycythaemia, cryoglobulinaemia, macroglobulinaemia and sickle cell anaemia, partly act through promoting stasis. Hypercoagulability per se is an unusual cause of intracardiac thrombosis and can be primary, due to a genetic defect in one or several coagulation proteins, or secondary, occurring in a variety of clinical conditions associated with recurrent thrombosis.

Primary or genetic causes of hypercoagulability mainly include deficiencies in antithrombin III, protein C, protein S and fibrinolytics, factor V Leiden gene mutation and prothrombin gene mutation.35 Secondary causes include cancer, acute leukaemia, myeloproliferative disorders, nephrotic syndrome, oral contraceptives, pregnancy, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), thrombotic thrombocytopenia, antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, homocystinuria, thrombocytosis, sickle cell anaemia, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and others.34

While right atrial thrombosis shares in some of the aetiological narrative of thrombosis mentioned above, there are important differences as well. Right atrial thrombosis has been described with DVT of leg and pelvic veins, atrial fibrillation,36 constrictive pericarditis with tricuspid thrombotic obstruction37 and non-specific pericarditis,38 restrictive cardiomyopathy,39 and after Fontan operation.40,41 Genetic causes like methylenetetrahydrofolate (MTHF) reductase gene polymorphism,42 hypercoagulability characterised by factor V Leiden gene, thrombophilia genes and high serum homocysteine,43 myeloid leukaemia,44 heparin-induced thrombocytopenia,45,46 lung cancer47 and amoebic liver abscess,48 have all been reported with right atrial thrombosis. Biatrial thrombosis with mitral stenosis and leg DVT treated with mitral valve replacement and bi-atrial thrombectomy has been reported.49

Figure 6. Excised right atrial mass
Figure 6. Excised right atrial mass

On the other hand, there are reports of bi-atrial thrombosis across a patent foramen ovale, with resolution following anticoagulation.50 Some of the right atrial thrombi might be entrapped ‘in transit’ across a patent foramen ovale.43,51 However, the most common causes of right atrial thrombosis relate to the host of artificial devices inserted into the right atrium for a variety of indications. These include central venous catheters and Hickman lines for longterm use for antibiotics, hyperalimentation52 and chemotherapy,53,54 pulmonary artery catheters,55 permanent pacemaker56 and defibrillator leads,57 umbilical catheters,58 dialysis catheters59 and port-a-caths,60 extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) catheters,61 and ventriculoatrial shunts for hydrocephalus62 or peritoneovenous shunts for intractable recurrent malignant ascites.63

Some of the device-related thrombosis has a septic component to it.64,65 Yang et al. reviewed the available literature on right atrial thrombosis in 2010 and identified 122 cases: 91% of patients had central venous catheters, 40.8% were premature, 27.2% were postcardiac surgery patients, 19.2% had underlying malignancies and 45.6% of patients received intravenous hyperalimentation.66 Aksu et al. and Khurana et al. separately described two inferior cavo-atrial masses with pulmonary thromboembolism masquerading as myxomas and vegetations, where histopathology revealed thrombus.67,68

A solitary unilateral adrenal mass may be a cyst, an adenoma or a carcinoma. An adrenal cortical adenoma or carcinoma may be functional or non-functional. A cortisolsecreting adenoma or carcinoma gives rise to Cushing’s syndrome, an aldosterone-secreting adenoma (Conn’s syndrome) or carcinoma leads to primary hyperaldosteronism, and an androgen-secreting adrenal cortical carcinoma can cause the virilising adrenogenital syndrome. Again there might be non-functional cortical adenomas or carcinomas, but these are much less common. Adrenal medullary tumours include phaeochromocytomas, neuroblastomas, ganglioneuromas and variants of these neoplasms.69

Our patient had a massive right atrial mass arising from the inferior right atrial wall very close to the inferior vena caval opening. In the presence of a left adrenal mass shadow, there was a possibility of an adrenal metastasis coming up the renal vein and inferior vena cava into the right atrium. In light of her previous history of leg DVT and CABG, a right atrial thrombosis could not be entirely ruled out.

Between 10 and 20% of myxomas arise from the right atrium and, although origin from the inferior wall close to inferior vena cava is unusual, there are at least two case reports of origin from the inferior vena cava.18 This atypical origin further increased the diagnostic doubt. Origin of the tumour near the inferior vena caval opening and filling up of the whole of the right atrium by the myxoma made direct cannulation of the cavae mandatory and direct cannulation of supradiaphragmatic inferior vena cava difficult, but in the event it was possible to negotiate a Pacifico size 24 F venous cannula into the inferior vena cava just below the tumour, and the tumour was excised in its entirety, along with the adjoining right atrial wall close to the inferior vena cava, with adequate tumour clearance, while the heart was beating without aortic cross clamp.

Had the direct inferior vena cava cannulation not been possible due to involvement by the tumour, the tumour would have to be excised under profound hypothermia with low flows or circulatory arrest. A thrombus would have mandated excision with or without an inferior vena cava filter and aggressive postoperative anticoagulation. An adrenal metastasis would have required an in-continuity excision of the left adrenal gland and suprarenal veins. An on-table TOE confirmed absence of concomitant myxomas elsewhere in cardiac chambers, as well as complete removal of tumour. A pre-operative CT scan had ruled out any pulmonary emboli and postoperative CT scan excluded any spilling of myxomatous debris in pulmonary circulation. All three grafts including LIMA to LAD, left radial artery to obtuse marginal branch of circumflex artery and, specifically, left cephalic vein to diagonal artery were patent.

Conflict of interest

None declared.

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