Adolescent with neurological manifestations of cardiac cause treated surgically

Cardiac myxomas are a rare but important cause of embolic events and cerebrovascular disease in children and adolescents. The authors report the case of a 12-year-old girl with sudden dizziness and right-sided paresthesia of the lips and fingers of the right hand. She was observed by a pediatric neurologist and brain magnetic resonance imaging suggested demyelinating lesions or vasculitis. Echocardiography showed a left atrial mass compatible with an atrial myxoma. The myxoma was surgically removed without complications. This case highlights the need for cardiac evaluation to rule out a cardiac tumor with embolic potential in the presence of any child with neurological manifestations of cerebrovascular disease with inconclusive brain imaging, even with no previous evidence of cardiac disease. Prompt clinical recognition and surgical removal are essential to prevent serious complications.