When Shortness of Breath Gets Misdiagnosed: Atrial Myxoma Case Report

The vague presentation of an atrial myxoma makes accurate diagnosis difficult. This case report reviews the case of a 54-year-old female who presented to the Emergency Department complaining of shortness of breath and back pain. Prior to her Emergency Department evaluation, she had been given a diagnosis with pneumonia. Upon further evaluation, she was diagnosed with a large left atrial myxoma that was surgically removed via median sternotomy. After recovering from her surgery, the patient had a full resolution of her symptoms. Although the treatment for myxomas has a high success rate of full recovery, the difficulty in diagnosis poses problems for patients and can prolong symptoms due to potential misdiagnosis.