Atrial myxoma: a rare cause of cardioembolic stroke

BMJ Case Rep. 2012 Sep 7:2012:bcr2012006176. doi: 10.1136/bcr.2012.006176.

Abstract

The authors present the case of a 45-year-old lady who presented to the emergency department with sudden onset of right hemiparesis, numbness, dysarthria, dysmetria, left upper motor neuron facial palsy and left extensor plantar. Initial laboratory investigations, ECG and MR angiography were normal. MRI brain revealed multiple ischaemic strokes in middle cerebral artery and posterior cerebral artery territory. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed large mobile mass in left atrium which was resected and the patient remained well postoperatively. Anticoagulants do not play any protective role making resection as the only effective treatment.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Brain Ischemia / diagnosis
  • Brain Ischemia / etiology*
  • Brain Ischemia / therapy
  • Echocardiography
  • Female
  • Heart Atria*
  • Heart Neoplasms / complications*
  • Heart Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Heart Neoplasms / surgery
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Middle Aged
  • Myxoma / complications*
  • Myxoma / diagnostic imaging
  • Myxoma / surgery
  • Stroke / diagnosis
  • Stroke / etiology*
  • Stroke / therapy