Myxoma masquerading as polyarteritis nodosa

A patient who presented with multisystemic symptoms is described. A diagnosis of polyarteritis nodosa was made after arteriographic demonstration of multiple aneurysms in the mesenteric and splenic circulations. The occurrence of a 2nd myocardial infarction in the absence of markers of activity of polyarteritis nodosa led to coronary arteriography which demonstrated a large left atrial myxoma confirmed by echocardiography. Surgical removal of the myxoma was followed by resolution of most of his symptoms and serves to point out the mimicking of a generalized vasculitis by cardiac myxoma.