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Left atrial myxomas presenting with right hand weakness.
Connecticut Medicine
|June 11, 1999
Summary
Left atrial myxomas, though rare, can cause stroke symptoms like hand weakness. Echocardiography is crucial for diagnosis, even without typical cardiac risk factors.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Neurology
- Pathology
Background:
- Left atrial myxomas are rare primary cardiac tumors.
- Stroke presentation can be the initial manifestation of cardiac myxomas.
Observation:
- A 63-year-old male presented with right hand weakness, indicative of a stroke.
- Two-dimensional echocardiography revealed a large left atrial mass.
- Surgical excision confirmed two separate left atrial myxomas.
Findings:
- Histopathological examination verified the diagnosis of left atrial myxomas.
- The patient's stroke was attributed to embolization from the cardiac myxomas.
Implications:
- Left atrial myxomas should be considered in the differential diagnosis of stroke, particularly in patients lacking traditional cardiovascular or cerebrovascular risk factors.
- The absence of cardiac symptoms or signs does not exclude the possibility of a cardiac myxoma.
- Early diagnosis and surgical intervention are critical for managing stroke risk associated with cardiac myxomas.