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Published on: September 25, 2009
Delayed multiple intracranial aneurysms caused by left atrial myxoma: a case report and literature review
Aihua Wang1, Zhaoxia Wang2, Ke Hu3
1Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong Institute of Neuroimmunology, Shandong Key Laboratory of Rheumatic Disease and Translational Medicine, Jinan, China.
Insights
Cardiac myxoma removal may prevent initial neurological symptoms but not delayed intracranial aneurysms. A neoplastic process may cause these delayed aneurysms, requiring comprehensive treatment.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Neurology
- Oncology
Background:
- Left atrial myxoma can cause neurological deficits.
- The development of intracranial aneurysms after myxoma resection is not well understood.
Observation:
- A 14-year-old male presented with stroke-like symptoms due to a left atrial myxoma.
- Despite successful surgical removal, multiple intracranial aneurysms developed 18 months later.
- The patient remained neurologically stable for 5 years with conservative management.
Findings:
- Atrial myxoma resection can resolve acute neurological symptoms.
- Delayed intracranial aneurysms can occur post-myxoma resection.
- The neoplastic process is a potential cause of these delayed aneurysms.
Implications:
- Early neurological symptoms from myxoma do not preclude delayed aneurysm formation.
- A multimodal treatment approach including surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and embolization may be necessary for delayed aneurysms.
- Further research into the pathogenesis of delayed intracranial aneurysms post-myxoma is warranted.
Abstract:
Intracranial aneurysm may appear even after the removal of the cardiac myxoma. However, the pathogenesis and treatment of such aneurysm lesions are not clear. The study aimed to explore the clinical and imaging manifestation, hypothetical pathogenesis, and therapy in one case of left atrial myxoma causing multiple intracranial aneurysms. A 14-year-old male displayed a 3-hour history of episodic loss of consciousness and right hemiplegia after a leapfrog-like movement. The myxoma was diagnosed by a combination of clinical examination, leading to the diagnosis of mitral dynamic obstruction with a Grade III mitral diastolic murmur and tumor plop; magnetic resonance imaging, revealing multiple ischemic sites in both semi-oval centers; and transthoracic echocardiography, demonstrating a mitral valve obstruction. The myxoma was removed surgically; however, computed tomography angiography showed multiple intracranial aneurysms in both middle cerebral arteries 18 months after resection of the atrial myxoma. After conservative treatment, the patient had no neurological dysfunction symptoms for 5 years after myxoma resection. His condition is relatively stable. In conclusion, resection of the atrial myxoma may eliminate the early neurological symptoms, but it cannot ensure the nonoccurrence of delayed intracranial aneurysms. The neoplastic process theory was favored for explaining the aneurysm development in this case. According to the specific conditions of the patient, a combination of open surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and coil embolization is recommended.
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