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Updated: May 3, 2026

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance for the Evaluation of Suspected Cardiac Thrombus: Conventional and Emerging Techniques
Published on: June 11, 2019
Catastrophic systemic embolization from a left atrial myxoma
Benjamin D Mackie1, Farheen Shirazi, Matthew J Swadley
1Division of Cardiology (Drs. Kumar, Mackie, Rab, Shirazi, and Williams), Emory University School of Medicine; and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (Dr. Swadley), Emory University Hospital; Atlanta, Georgia 30322.
Abstract:
We report the fatal course of a left atrial myxoma: its systemic embolization to the coronary, cerebral, renal, and peripheral vascular beds in a 39-year-old woman resulted in rapid clinical deterioration, multiorgan failure, and death. Among reported cases of left atrial myxoma, this degree of embolic burden is exceedingly rare. In addition to reporting the patient's case, we discuss the presentation and diagnosis of possible intracardiac sources of systemic emboli.
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