Left atrial myxoma can present atypically as acute intracerebral haemorrhage, underscoring the importance of histological analysis of evacuated haematomas and subsequent echocardiography.
May prompt histology of evacuated ICH and echocardiography in atypical cases; hypothesis-generating for myxoma as rare stroke etiology.
Emboli from left atrial myxomas are a recognized cause of cerebral ischaemia. The myxomatous embolus may infiltrate the cerebral arterial wall, resulting in aneurysmal dilatation with a risk of rupture. Myxoma-associated cerebral haemorrhage has been described in patients with progressive neurological dysfunction. We report a new presentation. Our patient, a previously healthy 20 year old girl, developed acute intracerebral haemorrhage for which craniotomy was performed. Histology of evacuated haematoma revealed an intravascular fragment of myxoma. Echocardiography demonstrated a left atrial myxoma which later was uneventfully excised. Early diagnosis of embolic cardiac myxoma requires awareness of the diversity of clinical manifestations, and careful histological analysis of surgical specimens.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Macaulay et al. (1985) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: