Atrial myxoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of ischemic stroke, as cerebral ischemia can be its first clinical manifestation.
Supports considering atrial myxoma in young stroke differentials; hypothesis-generating, requiring larger studies before screening implications.
Cerebral infarctions of cardiac etiology are observed in around 20% of patients with ischemic stroke. Cerebral ischemia is the first clinical manifestation in 1/3 of cases of atrial myxomas. Although almost half of patients with atrial myxoma show changes at neurological exam, non-hemorrhagic cerebral infarction is seen in computed tomography in practically all cases. We present the case of a 40 year-old woman whose first clinical manifestation of atrial myxoma was an ischemic stroke. We point out to the possibility of silent cerebral infarction in atrial myxoma patients.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Almeida et al. (2006) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: