Giant left atrial myxoma presenting as cerebral embolism

Abstract

Primary cardiac neoplasms are uncommon with an overall incidence of 0.0017 to 0.02%. The majority of these tumors are benign and half of these tumors are myxomas. About 75% of them are located in the left atrium. Acute embolic cerebral stroke is major problem with increased mortality and morbidity. Embolus arising from cardiac origin costitutes about 20% of ischemic strokes. Atrial fibrillation is cause of more than 50% of cardiogenic emboli. Congenital heart diseases, such as atrial septal defect, patent foramen ovale, prosthetic and rheumatic heart valvular disease, dilated cardiomyopathy and endocarditis are predisposing factors for cardiogenic emboli. Emboli from primary tumors of the heart are extremely rare, with an incidence of 0.02 %. Myxoma is a potential source of systemic embolization to the brain or peripheral arteries. Thus, cerebral stroke may be the first manifestation of the presence of left atrial myxoma.