Delayed intracranial aneurysm formation after cardiac myxoma resection: Report of two cases and review of the literature

Delayed multiple intracranial aneurysms caused by left atrial myxoma: a case report and literature review

Intracranial aneurysm may appear even after the removal of the cardiac myxoma. However, the pathogenesis and treatment of such aneurysm lesions are not clear. The study aimed to explore the clinical and imaging manifestation, hypothetical pathogenesis, and therapy in one case of left atrial myxoma causing multiple intracranial aneurysms. A 14-year-old male displayed a 3-hour history of episodic loss of consciousness and right hemiplegia after a leapfrog-like movement. The myxoma was diagnosed by a combination of clinical examination, leading to the diagnosis of mitral dynamic obstruction with a Grade III mitral diastolic murmur and tumor plop; magnetic resonance imaging, revealing multiple ischemic sites in both semi-oval centers; and transthoracic echocardiography, demonstrating a mitral valve obstruction. The myxoma was removed surgically; however, computed tomography angiography showed multiple intracranial aneurysms in both middle cerebral arteries 18 months after resection of the atrial myxoma. After conservative treatment, the patient had no neurological dysfunction symptoms for 5 years after myxoma resection. His condition is relatively stable. In conclusion, resection of the atrial myxoma may eliminate the early neurological symptoms, but it cannot ensure the nonoccurrence of delayed intracranial aneurysms. The neoplastic process theory was favored for explaining the aneurysm development in this case. According to the specific conditions of the patient, a combination of open surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and coil embolization is recommended.

Atypical intracranial aneurysms: spectrum of imaging findings in computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging

We aim to describe demographics, clinical presentation, and spectrum of CT and MRI features suggestive of atypical intracranial aneurysms. The imaging protocols used for the diagnosis of intracranial aneurysms were thoroughly reviewed, including different CT and MRI protocols. We classified atypical aneurysms according to their location, size, clinical presentation, and specific imaging features. Dissecting aneurysms are one of the causes of stroke in young adults that may show intimal flap and double lumen. Traumatic intracranial aneurysms are a rare but serious complication of head injuries. Mycotic aneurysms are small and multiple at distal branch points with a high risk of rupture. Aneurysms with vasculitis are fusiform with a wide neck at a non-branch point that may be associated with vessel wall enhancement. Atherosclerotic aneurysms are usually large fusiform that affect large arteries. Oncotic aneurysms are relatively rare. They were reported to occur in patients with left atrial myxoma. Our study represented a wide spectrum of atypical intracranial aneurysms with their detailed diagnostic imaging findings on MRI and CT including newly introduced MRI sequences, which greatly influenced early diagnosis and timely management.

Late Diagnosis of Multiple Cerebral Aneurysms A Decade after Resection of Cardiac Myxoma

Cerebral embolism from a cardiac myxoma is a rare cause of ischaemic stroke. These emboli may later lead to the development of cerebral aneurysms. We report a case of delayed presentation of neurological manifestations in form of multiple intracranial aneurysms many years after treatment of a cardiac myxoma. Our patient, a 55-year-old right-handed female with a background history of hypertension, first presented at the age of 45 years with a sudden onset of right hemiplegia. A CT brain scan detected multiple infarcts in the territory of the left middle cerebral artery. Echocardiography revealed a cardiac myxoma for which she underwent immediate total surgical resection. Nearly 10 years after this diagnosis, she presented again with right-sided weakness and left ptosis. CT scan of the brain revealed bilateral acute superior cerebellar infarcts with interval evolution of previously known left cortical infarcts. MRI/MR angiogram showed multiple aneurysms arising from the bilateral middle, left anterior and left posterior cerebral arteries. She was managed conservatively. The management of multiple aneurysms with cardiac myxomas is highly debatable and dependent on the patient's presentation. This case highlights the importance to follow up on potential late extra-cardiac manifestations of the myxomas despite adequate resection.

Cardiac Myxoma as a Rare Cause of Pediatric Arterial Ischemic Stroke: Case Report and Literature Review

BACKGROUND

Cardiac disorders are the second leading cause of pediatric arterial ischemic stroke (AIS). Limited literature is available on pediatric AIS caused by cardiac myxoma, a rare tumor in childhood.

METHODS

We describe a new case of pediatric AIS due to a previously unknown atrial myxoma and we conduct a literature review on children with AIS due to cardiac myxoma.

RESULTS

We identified 41 published pediatric cases of AIS and cardiac myxoma, including ours (56% males, median age at AIS was 11 years [range: 3-18]). AIS presentation was most frequently with hemiparesis/hemiplegia (89%). Multiple brain ischemic lesions were detected in 69% of patients, and arteriopathy in 91%. Seven patients underwent mechanical thrombectomy. At AIS presentation, 73% of children had one or more of the following clinical symptoms/signs suggesting a possible underlying cardiac myxoma: Carney's complex, cardiac auscultation abnormalities, extraneurological symptoms/signs, such as skin signs (12, 38, and 65%, respectively). Cardiac myxoma was diagnosed within 72 hours in 68% of cases. Death occurred in 11%, and 40% had persistent neurological deficits.

CONCLUSION

Neurological presentation of AIS due to cardiac myxoma is similar to that of AIS with other etiologies, although clues suggesting a possible underlying cardiac myxoma can be detected in most cases. A timely diagnosis of cardiac myxoma in patients with AIS may favor prompt identification of candidates for endovascular therapy. Therefore, we suggest that in otherwise-healthy children presenting with AIS, transthoracic echocardiography should be performed early after stroke presentation.

Early and delayed neurological manifestations of cardiac myxomas

Cardiac myxoma can embolize and cause early and delayed sequelae including stroke, growth into intracranial fusiform aneurysms and cerebral tumors with risk of hemorrhage and mass effect. Here, we report the rare coincidence of all these manifestations in a 63-year-old man who presented with cognitive and behavioral changes, and seizures 9 months after an embolic stroke from the heart tumor. C-reactive protein (CRP) was elevated at the time of stroke and cardiac myxoma diagnosis but was normal at late neurologic manifestation with isolated myxoma-related intracranial tumors and aneurysms. Low-dose whole-brain radiotherapy can be helpful to diminish cerebral myxoma tumors and fusiform aneurysms despite reported increased risk of aneurysm rupture.