ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: Primary cardiac tumors are rare neoplasms in humans, of which the most common is the atrial Myxoma. The objective of this study was to find the incidence of these tumors at the Heart Center of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. METHODS: This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Medical Sciences Campus University of Puerto Rico to review the records at the Heart Center of patients with heart tumors in the last 14 years. RESULTS: The sample consists of 55 patients (78.9% were females and 24.1% were male) with a median age of 52 years. Sixty-five percent of patients lived in rural areas. Clinical presentations included shortness of breath (43.1%), chest pain (37.9%), asymptomatic (25%), palpitations (20.7%), neurologic symptoms (10.3%) and dizziness (6.9%). Electrocardiographic findings included normal sinus rhythm (53.4%), non-specific ST-T changes (32.8%), sinus tachycardia (20.7%), left atrial enlargement (10.3%) and atrial fibrillation (8.6%). A subgroup presenting with atrial fibrillation prior to diagnosis had left atrial myxoma. The tumors found, in descending order of frequency are: left atrial myxoma, right atrial myxoma, papillary fibroelastoma, hamartoma, lipoma and rhabdomyoma. We found a correlation between large left atrial myxoma and atrial fibrillation. CONCLUSION: The most frequent heart tumor was atrial myxoma. The larger myxomas were associated with atrial fibrillation.
Subject(s)
Atrial Fibrillation/etiology , Heart Neoplasms/complications , Heart Neoplasms/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Heart Neoplasms/diagnosis , Humans , Incidence , Infant , Male , Middle Aged , Puerto Rico , Young AdultABSTRACT
The management of blunt thoracic aortic injury between the Puerto Rico Trauma Center and the Cardiovascular Center of Puerto Rico from 2006 to the present is reported. The specific time period was selected as a standard management was established in 2006. Sixteen cases were operated, details including mode of diagnosis, mechanism of injury, injury site, age, surgical approach, type of repair, operative time, number of blood transfusions and other details are described and compared with other surgical series reported in the literature.
Subject(s)
Aorta, Thoracic/injuries , Aorta, Thoracic/surgery , Wounds, Nonpenetrating/surgery , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Female , Health Facilities , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Puerto Rico , Retrospective Studies , Trauma Centers , Young AdultABSTRACT
A retrospective study was done to determine the frequency of coronary artery anomalies in terms of their origin, course, and structure. The clinical history, catheterization data and surgical reports of patients undergoing coronary angiography at the Cardiovascular Center of Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, from 1999 to 2004, were analyzed. Thirty-eight patients were identified with a coronary artery anomaly in this population. These anomalies were classified according to their clinical consequences and the need for surgical intervention.
Subject(s)
Coronary Vessel Anomalies/diagnostic imaging , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures , Child , Child, Preschool , Coronary Angiography , Coronary Vessel Anomalies/epidemiology , Coronary Vessel Anomalies/surgery , Coronary Vessels/surgery , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Middle Aged , Puerto Rico/epidemiology , Retrospective Studies , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Myxomas are the most common type of primary cardiac tumors. Around 70% of patients who have them are females, 86% occur in the left atrium and more than 90% are solitary. In the left atrium the usual site of attachment is in the fossa ovalis. Less common sites within the left atrium are the mitral valve or in areas near it. This patient, with a left atrial myxoma originating low in the interatrial septum near the mitral valve, is one of the first cases reported in Puerto Rico. The patient is a 41 year old female with no previous history of systemic illnesses who one month prior to admission developed episodes of chest pain and shortness of breath. A 2D echo, done by a local physician, revealed a mobile left atrial mass causing diastolic obstruction of the valve. She was referred to our institution for further evaluation. A transesophageal echo was done showing a large bilobulated mass connected to the lowermost portion of the atrial septum, close to the mitral annulus, specially to the anterior leaflet. It also showed concurrent mitral regurgitation caused by the mass. The tumor was successfully resected without major complications and it was proven to be connected to the septum 1 cm above the mitral annulus. Pathological examination confirmed it to be a myxoma.
Subject(s)
Heart Neoplasms , Heart Septum , Myxoma , Adult , Echocardiography, Transesophageal , Electrocardiography , Female , Heart Atria , Heart Neoplasms/complications , Heart Neoplasms/diagnosis , Heart Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Heart Neoplasms/pathology , Heart Neoplasms/surgery , Heart Septum/pathology , Humans , Mitral Valve Insufficiency/etiology , Myxoma/complications , Myxoma/diagnosis , Myxoma/diagnostic imaging , Myxoma/pathology , Myxoma/surgery , Treatment OutcomeSubject(s)
Humans , Male , Aged , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/secondary , Carotid Body , Tongue Neoplasms/physiopathology , Head and Neck Neoplasms/secondary , Syncope/physiopathology , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/surgery , Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/physiopathology , Carotid Body/surgery , Carotid Body/physiopathology , Glossectomy , Neck Dissection , Tongue Neoplasms/surgery , Head and Neck Neoplasms/surgery , Head and Neck Neoplasms/physiopathology , Syncope/surgeryABSTRACT
The first case of human pulmonary dirofilariasis in our country is reported. The etiopathogenesis and pathological findings of the zoonosis are discussed
