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Atrial myxoma as a cause of stroke: case report and discussion

Fintan O'Rourke1, Naeem Dean, Mikael S Mouradian

  • 1Stroke Prevention Clinic, University of Alberta Hospital, Edmonton, AB. forourke@ualberta.ca

CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association Journal = Journal De L'Association Medicale Canadienne
|November 12, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Cardiac myxoma can cause serious embolic events like stroke if not diagnosed early. Prompt cardiac investigation is crucial for timely treatment and preventing severe outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Neurology
  • Vascular Medicine

Background:

  • Cardiac myxoma is a rare primary tumor of the heart.
  • It can lead to embolic events affecting the central nervous system and other organs.
  • Diagnosis can be delayed due to nonspecific symptoms or lack of cardiac history.

Observation:

  • Nonspecific systemic symptoms and minor embolic phenomena may be overlooked.
  • Cardiac investigations are often not performed in the absence of known cardiac issues.
  • A case is presented where diagnosis was delayed until significant embolic disease, like stroke, occurred.

Findings:

  • Cardiac myxoma is a significant source of emboli.
  • Delayed diagnosis can lead to severe neurological deficits, such as functional impairment from stroke.
  • Early recognition of subtle signs is key.

Implications:

  • Highlights the importance of considering cardiac myxoma in patients with unexplained embolic events.
  • Emphasizes the need for cardiac investigations even with nonspecific symptoms.
  • Timely diagnosis and treatment can prevent devastating sequelae like stroke.

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