A 40 year old man suffered eight years of vague but disabling symptoms, initially thought to be related to post viral fatigue syndrome, but ameliorated by the removal of a large atrial myxoma. The diagnosis of atrial myxoma is notoriously difficult, but should be excluded by echocardiography if there are predominant symptoms of progressive exertional dyspnoea, even in the absence of cardiological signs.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
NihoyannopoulosPVenkatesanPHackettDJValentineHOakleyC.Left atrial myxoma: new perspectives in the diagnosis of murmur free cases. Br Heart J1986; 56: 554–560.
2.
BowmanSJBrostoffJNewmanSMowbrayJF. Post-viral fatigue syndrome - how can a diagnosis be made A study of patients undergoing a Monospot test. JR Soc Med1989; 82: 712–716.
3.
ArchardLCBowlesNEBehanPOBellEJDoyleD.Post-viral fatigue syndrome: persistence of interovirus RNA in muscles and elevated creatinine kinase. JR Soc Med1988; 81: 326–329.
4.
JamalG AHansenS.Electrophysiological studies in the post-viral fatigue syndrome. J Neurol Neurosurg. Psychiatry1985; 48: 691–694.
5.
MillerNACarmichaelHACalderBDBehanPOBellEJMcCartneyRAHallFC. Antibody to Coxsackie B virus in diagnosing post-viral fatigue syndrome. BMJ1991; 302: 140–143.
6.
St John SuttonMMercierLABiulianiELieJT. Atrial myxomas. A review of clinical experience in 40 patients. Mayo Clin Proc June1980; 55: 371–376.
7.
PetersMHallRCooleyDLeachmanRGarciaE.The clinical syndrome of atrial myxoma. JAMA1974; 230: 695–701.