Health condition
Cardiac tumours (myxoma)
Atrial myxoma is the commonest primary heart tumour - benign but dangerous, capable of causing stroke, breathlessness and fevers; echocardiography finds it and prompt surgical removal cures it.
Why trust this guide
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Editorial team
Written by our editorial team from the UK sources listed on each page.
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Sourced from guidance
Checked against current NHS and UK specialist society guidance at the time of review.
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Current for 2026
Reviewed on 2026-09-27 with the next review scheduled for 2027-09-27.
Key facts
The essentials at a glance.
The symptoms to recognise, when to seek help, which specialist to see, and what treatment usually involves.
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Most arise in the left atrium on a stalk, moving with the heartbeat
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Can present with embolic stroke, positional breathlessness or constitutional symptoms mimicking infection
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Echocardiography is the key diagnostic test
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Surgical excision is curative and usually performed promptly after diagnosis
Understanding the condition
What it is and what happens next.
What causes it, how it is diagnosed, and the treatment routes available in the UK.
What it is and how it feels
Primary heart tumours are rare, and three-quarters of them are benign - myxoma chief among them: a gelatinous, stalked mass swaying in the left atrium. Its dangers are mechanical and embolic rather than malignant: fragments break away to cause stroke or limb ischaemia; the mass can obstruct the mitral valve with posture, producing breathlessness or faints that change with lying down; and secreted inflammatory mediators generate fever, weight loss and raised markers that convincingly imitate endocarditis or autoimmune disease.
Diagnosis and treatment routes
Echocardiography - often performed for exactly these puzzles - reveals the tumour in moments, and cardiac MRI refines the picture. Because embolism is unpredictable, excision on cardiopulmonary bypass follows without lengthy delay; operative risk is low, recurrence uncommon, and echo surveillance covers the years after. Myxomas in young patients, multiple or recurrent tumours raise the question of Carney complex, an inherited syndrome meriting genetic assessment and family screening. In many parts of the UK, routine NHS referrals for this kind of problem can take months, whereas an initial appointment with a private consultant is typically available within around two weeks.
Seeing a specialist
Who to see, and how quickly you can be seen.
The specialist for this condition is usually a consultant cardiothoracic surgeon. Your GP can refer you on the NHS, or you can arrange a private consultation directly.
A quiet reminder
This guide is for information, not medical advice.
Your GP knows your history and can tell you which parts apply to you. If in doubt, see them - and seek urgent care for any of the emergency symptoms described above.
Frequently asked
Common questions about Cardiac tumours (myxoma).
Quick, plain-English answers to what people ask us most.
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What is a cardiac myxoma?
A cardiac myxoma is the most common type of primary (originating in the heart) tumor of the heart, and is almost always benign (non-cancerous). It most often grows on a stalk within the left atrium, one of the heart's upper chambers. Despite being benign, it can still cause significant problems if left untreated.
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What causes a cardiac myxoma?
Most cardiac myxomas occur sporadically with no clear cause. A small proportion are linked to an inherited condition called Carney complex, which can cause myxomas in multiple locations along with other features. Genetic testing may be considered if there are suggestive family or personal features.
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What symptoms does it cause?
Symptoms can include breathlessness, palpitations, fainting, or symptoms mimicking a stroke or heart valve disease if a piece breaks off and travels in the bloodstream (embolises). Some myxomas are discovered incidentally on an echocardiogram done for another reason. Symptoms often depend on the tumor's size and position within the heart chamber.
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Is a cardiac myxoma dangerous?
Yes, despite being benign, it can obstruct blood flow through the heart valve or cause fragments to embolise to the brain or other organs, so removal is generally recommended even without severe symptoms. Left untreated, complications can be serious, including stroke. Surgical removal is usually curative.
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How is it diagnosed?
Echocardiography (heart ultrasound) is typically the first and most useful test, often supplemented by cardiac MRI for more detailed characterisation. It is frequently found while investigating unexplained breathlessness, fainting, or after an embolic event such as a stroke. Diagnosis is usually straightforward once imaging is performed.
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How is a cardiac myxoma treated?
Surgical removal is the standard treatment and is usually curative, with most patients making a full recovery. Recurrence is uncommon after complete removal but is monitored with periodic echocardiograms, particularly in familial cases. Surgery is generally recommended promptly once diagnosed given the embolic and obstructive risks.
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When should I see a specialist?
If you have unexplained breathlessness, fainting, or a stroke-like event with no clear cause, cardiology assessment including an echocardiogram is warranted. NHS cardiology waits can extend to several weeks; a private consultation is typically available within about 2 weeks for prompt imaging and assessment.