[Neurologic complications of cardiac myxomas]

Cardiac myxomas are rare tumours complicated by faintness or syncope usually occurring in upright position and due to obstruction of a cardiac valve orifice. Myxomas are also manifested by neurological deficits caused by myxomatous or fibrino-cruoric cerebral emboli. Intracranial aneurysms and metastases are exceptional. The simplest and most reliable diagnostic method is transthoracic two-dimensional cardiac echography. Treatment consists of surgical excision which has very low morbidity, mortality and recurrence rates.