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Cardiac myxosarcoma with thoracic spinal metastasis
Mitsuhiro Kimura1, Chizuo Kikuchi, Yoshiki Takahashi
1Division of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Niigata City General Hospital, 463-7 Shumoku, Chuo-ku, Niigata City, Niigata, 950-1197, Japan, mkimura@yamanashi.ac.jp.
General Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
|May 17, 2013
Summary
This study reports the first case of spinal metastasis from a cardiac myxosarcoma in a 59-year-old man. The rare condition presented with neurological symptoms due to spinal cord compression.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Neurology
- Oncology
Background:
- Cardiac tumors are rare, with myxomas being the most common primary cardiac tumor.
- Metastasis from cardiac tumors to distant sites, particularly the spine, is exceptionally uncommon.
Observation:
- A 59-year-old male presented with back pain, left foot drop, and loss of ankle reflex.
- Echocardiography identified a left atrial tumor; MRI revealed an epidural spinal tumor at T5 causing cord compression.
Findings:
- Emergency spinal decompression (Th4-5 laminectomy) was performed.
- Surgical excision of the left atrial tumor revealed myxosarcoma.
- The spinal tumor was histopathologically consistent with cardiac myxosarcoma metastasis.
Implications:
- This case highlights the potential for cardiac myxosarcoma to metastasize to the spine, presenting with neurological deficits.
- Early diagnosis and multidisciplinary management are crucial for patients with suspected cardiac tumors and metastatic disease.
- This report expands the understanding of rare metastatic patterns of cardiac myxosarcoma.