A 57-year-old man presented with syncope after effort which developed in the last 6 months. The physical examination, chest roentgenography and electrocardiography results were normal. Transthoracic and transesophagial ecocardiography showed right atrial mass prolapsing the tricuspit valve into the right ventricule during diastole. The other cardiac chambers appeared normal. Coronary angiography revealed normal coronary arteries. The operation and cardiopulmonary bypass was performed by cannulation into the aorta and retrograde femoral vein and superior vena caval canulation. Surgical exploration of the right atrium revealed 6.5x5.5x4.5 cm dull, purplish mass attached to the interatrial septum. The mass was attentively and successfully excised. Histologic examination of the mass confirmed the diagnosis of cardiac myxoma. The patient recovered without any complication. We emphasize a characteristic feature of syncopal attacks, and discuss the importance of prevention of intraoperative systemic and pulmonary tumor embolization resulting from venous cannulation for cardiopulmonary bypass in patients with right atrial myxomas.

Keywords : Heart neoplasms/diagnosis/surgery; myxoma/surgery; syncope