Massive left atrial myxoma leading to recurrent cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs) in a young woman: A case report

Abstract

Myxomas are tumors that occur due to uncontrolled proliferation of mesenchymal cells. Cardiac myxomas although very rare, are still the most common primary tumor of heart. Cardiac myxomas have a prevalence of 0.03% in the general population. They can have a variety of clinical presentations with obstructive cardiac symptoms, constitutional symptoms and symptoms due to embolism to other body parts chief among them. CNS embolism with stroke is among the rarest clinical presentation of cardiac myxomas. Our article portrays a case of cardiac myxomas that initially resulted in episodes of dyspnea and syncope and eventually led to recurrent episodes of transient ischemic attack and stroke. Case was confirmed by transesophageal echocardiography and managed surgically by medial sternotomy. Myxoma, a benign primary cardiac tumor is itself a rare occurrence, embolization of myxoma leading to multiple strokes is an atypical clinical presentation. Our report would be a valuable addition to the already existing literature.

Keywords

• Atrial myxoma
• Cerebrovascular accidents (CVAs)
• Cardiac
• Stroke
• Case report