Malignant cardiac myxoma with cerebral metastases

Abstract

Two cases of cardiac myxoma with secondary involvement of the brain and death are reported. In one case, tumor emboli to the middle cerebral artery caused massive cerebral infarction, while in the other case true cerebral metastasis developed in the cerebrum and cerebellum, with rapid demise ensuing in both patients. It is emphasized that an emergency exists in cases ihat prompt echocardiography and computerized tomography of the brain are indicated. The second case represents the only instance of cardiac myxoma behaving as a true malignant neoplasm with actual invasion of the neural tissues recorded in the literature.