Atrial myxoma presenting as acute ischaemic stroke and chronic right lower leg claudication

Atrial myxoma: A cause for concern in multiple cerebral infarctions in absence of cardiac symptoms

Ischaemic cerebral infarct is the most common neurological manifestation of myxomas. We present a mid-70s man who was brought to the stroke unit with sudden onset right hemiparesis and dysarthria. Although he had risk factors for developing stroke like hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, history of prostate cancer and new paroxysmal atrial flutter on admission, clinical suspicion and detailed investigations in the absence of cardiac symptoms revealed a 9 cm myxoma causing severe mitral stenosis. He underwent successful surgical resection with good functional recovery. This also highlights the need for thorough clinical examination especially in the absence of cardiac symptoms.

Unusual Cause of Stroke

Every year, more than 795,000 people in the United States have a stroke, the vast majority of which are ischemic. Cardiac myxoma is an unusual cause of stroke and accounts for less than 1% of ischemic strokes. We present a case of a 56-year-old male with a history of hypertension, dyslipidemia, and type 2 diabetes mellitus, who presented with altered mental status, tinnitus, double vision, and diaphoresis. Due to concern for a cerebral vascular accident, a CT scan of the brain was obtained and showed no acute intracranial process. Brain MRI revealed multiple small acute infarcts involving bilateral posterior cerebral artery distribution. Further evaluation included transthoracic echocardiography that showed a large mobile mass in the left atrium measuring 3.5 x 2 cm intermittently projecting through the mitral valve. The patient underwent successful surgical resection of the left atrial mass. The pathology report confirmed the diagnosis of atrial myxoma. This case further highlights the importance of complete evaluation of stroke, including echocardiography, as well as the importance of careful surgical resection to prevent recurrence of systemic embolization and other complications of atrial myxoma.

Multiple cerebral metastases and metastatic aneurysms in patients with left atrial Myxoma: a case report

Background

Cardiac myxoma is the most common benign cardiac tumor. Brain metastases or multiple cerebral aneurysms are extremely rare, especially for the case of both complications. Brain metastases are usually found at the same time or few months after the diagnosis or surgical removal of cardiac myxoma

Case presentation

We describe a case of patient, operated for a cardiac myxoma, who presented multiple central nervous system metastases associated, cerebral aneurysms and subsequent intracerebral hemorrhage

Conclusions

The long-term follow-up of the patients with atrial myxoma even after complete surgical excision is recommended, especially for the patient with central nervous system manifestations before atrial myxoma excision