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Coronary artery thromboembolism: Unexpected presentation of left atrial myxoma covered with thrombus
Samet Uysal1, Ayse Zehra Karakoc2, Kadir Biyikli1
1Department of Cardiology, Kartal Kosuyolu Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Insights
Cardiac myxomas, rare heart tumors, can cause fatal myocardial infarction through arterial embolism. Surgical removal confirmed the myxoma as the cause of this unusual presentation.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Oncology
Background:
- Cardiac myxomas are primary heart tumors, typically benign.
- They pose a significant risk of thromboembolic complications.
Observation:
- A patient presented with cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation, linked to myocardial infarction.
- Diagnostic imaging revealed a left atrial mass, suspected as the source of coronary embolism.
Findings:
- Coronary angiography and transthoracic echocardiography identified a left atrial mass.
- Surgical excision and pathological examination confirmed the mass as a cardiac myxoma.
Implications:
- This case highlights cardiac myxoma as an unusual cause of myocardial infarction.
- Early diagnosis and surgical intervention are crucial for managing myxoma-related thromboembolic events.
Abstract:
Cardiac myxomas are benign primer cardiac tumors of the heart. They can be fatal with a thromboembolic presentation. Myocardial infarction is one of these unusual thromboembolic presentations. We report a patient who presented with cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation related to myocardial infarction. After successful resuscitation, coronary angiography and transthoracic echocardiography were performed. A left atrial mass was observed and interpreted as a possible cause of coronary embolism leading to myocardial infarction. After surgical excision, the pathological examination confirmed myxoma, which was the essential cause of the tendency to arterial embolism.
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