Cutaneous myxoma: an important clue to Carney complex

A 22-year-old male became unconscious and was found to have left-sided weakness and facial asymmetry. Previously, he had up to 35 excisions for subcutaneous swellings all over the body, commencing at age 6 years. Examination revealed small nodular skin lesions on the neck, the eyelid and hard palate. Two-dimensional echocardiography showed two left atrial masses. Histopathological examination of the subcutaneous lesions showed cutaneous myxomas with a prominent epithelial component. The left atrial masses were also myxomas. The case attempts to highlight the importance of histopathological examination of subcutaneous swellings. Cutaneous and subcutaneous manifestations, including cutaneous myxomas, are among the earliest presentations in Carney's complex and may herald potentially fatal cardiac myxoma. The prominent epithelial component in cutaneous myxomas may be confusing and cause diagnostic difficulties.