Atrial myxoma with intellectual decline and cerebral growths on CT scan

Abstract

A woman with left atrial myxoma had progressive disturbance of intellectual function, headache, and prominent constitutional symptoms. The absence of stroke is noteworthy. Multiple high-density lesions with contrast enhancement were seen by CT scan, suggesting metastatic neoplasms, hematomas, or hemorrhagic infarcts. Serial study showed progressive enlargement of the lesions. The only cerebral lesion examined histologically proved to be an organizing hematoma, originating most likely from adjacent small arteries found to be plugged by embolic myxoma.