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Case Reports
. 2020 Apr-Jun;30(2):113-115.
doi: 10.4103/jcecho.jcecho_51_20. Epub 2020 Aug 17.

The Importance of Ultrasound in a Case of Stroke Caused by Left Atrial Myxoma

Vincenzo Francesco Tripodi  1 , Carmelo Massimiliano Rao  2 , Angelo Covino  1 , Pasquale Fratto  3 , Frank Antonio Benedetto  2
Affiliations
Case Reports

The Importance of Ultrasound in a Case of Stroke Caused by Left Atrial Myxoma

Vincenzo Francesco Tripodi et al. J Cardiovasc Echogr. 2020 Apr-Jun.

Abstract

Myxoma is one of the most common cardiac tumors. It is relatively straightforward to diagnose by echocardiography. Sometimes, It can causes cardiac syncope and thromboembolic events. A woman without comorbidities was admitted to our hospital with stroke symptoms: left-sided hemiplegia and dysarthria. After brain computed tomography (CT) and angio-CT value, she was initially treated with pharmacological thrombolysis. Due to persisting symptoms, cerebral angiography and thrombectomy were then performed. At the end of this procedure, the patient had a complete neurological recovery, but she developed new symptoms, such as dyspnea and orthopnea. Transthoracic echocardiogram and transesophageal echocardiogram showed an atrial mobile mass. Therefore, an urgent cardiac surgery was performed in order to remove the mass. Histological examination confirmed cardiac myxoma. Our experience could show the importance of echocardiography to early diagnosis.

Keywords: Cardiac myxoma; echocardiography; stroke; thrombectomy; ultrasound.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) showing the mass during the cardiac cycle
Figure 2
Figure 2
Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) shows a large left atrial mass at the level of the mitral valve during systole and the prolapsing into the left ventricle during the diastolic cycle
Figure 3
Figure 3
Postresection left atrial myxoma
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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