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Published on: December 19, 2025
Young stroke, cardiac myxoma, and multiple emboli: a case report and literature review
Huai-Hua Yeh1, Chi-Chiang Yang, Wai-Fai Tung
1Section of Neurology, Tungs' Taichung Metroharbor Hospital, Taiwan. flyikimo@yahoo.com.tw
Insights
Cardiac myxoma, a rare heart tumor, can cause serious neurological events like stroke. Early diagnosis and surgical removal are crucial for preventing devastating outcomes and enabling recovery.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Neurology
- Oncology
Background:
- Cardiac myxoma is a primary cardiac tumor and a significant source of arterial emboli.
- Embolization from cardiac myxoma can lead to severe neurological complications, including stroke and hemorrhage.
Observation:
- A 40-year-old male without traditional vascular risk factors presented with stroke symptoms.
- Diagnostic imaging revealed a large mitral valve mass, confirmed as cardiac myxoma, with evidence of systemic embolization to the brain, kidneys, and eye.
Findings:
- The patient experienced infarction of the left middle cerebral artery due to emboli from the cardiac myxoma.
- Histopathological examination confirmed the cardiac myxoma, and systemic emboli were observed in multiple organs.
Implications:
- Early diagnosis and surgical excision of cardiac myxoma are vital to prevent catastrophic embolic events and potential sudden death.
- Surgical treatment can lead to symptom resolution, normalization of inflammatory markers, and potential regression of associated intracranial aneurysms.
Abstract:
Cardiac myxoma is a source of emboli to the vascular tree, especially to the central nervous system. Although it is rare, its early recognition is particularly important because of its unique clinical features of subsequently leading to intracerebral or subarachnoid hemorrhage, even brain metastases, and its potential for surgical cure. Missing the diagnosis may lead to devastating results, including stroke, even sudden death. A 40-year-old male with no other conventional vascular risk factors such as hypertension, diabetes or hyperlipidemia presented with right hemiplegia, global aphasia, vomiting, and fever. Infarction over the left middle cerebral artery was disclosed on magnetic resonance imaging study, and echocardiogram showed a huge mass, about 5cm in size, on the mitral valve which was histopathologically proved to be a cardiac myxoma. He also presented with multiple emboli to the kidneys and the left eye. There is uncertainty about the role of anticoagulation. The treatment of choice remains surgical excision of the cardiac myxoma which may lead to normalization of serum interleukin-6 levels and resolution of constitutional symptoms, and the intracranial aneurysms may regress and resolve.
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