Intracardiac varices of the right atrium: a case report and review of the literature

Two broad-based masses arising along the right atrial septum in a 31-year-old man were detected by transesophageal echocardiography and were thought to represent partially calcified myxomas. However, at operation they were cystic structures filled with blood and calcific nodules. Microscopically, they represented varices with phleboliths. Angiography and ultrafast computed tomography may help distinguish this entity from myxomas and other right atrial intracavitary masses.