Abstract
A 61-year-old woman with a low thromboembolic risk was scheduled to
undergo pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for paroxysmal atrial
fibrillation. Transthoracic echocardiography showed no cardiac
structural abnormality. Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) identified a
small left atrium mass attached to the atrial septum and the procedure
was stopped before the transseptal puncture; the surgically resected
tumor was cardiac myxoma. ICE is a reliable imaging modality to exclude
left atrial thrombus. However, unusual and unexpected cardiac structures
also prevent performing PVI, which pre-procedural transesophageal
echocardiography could identify. Imaging options should be further
discussed to improve patient care and safety.