Cardiac myxoma

Abstract

Three patients with left atrial myxoma presented with prominent neurologic symptoms and signs (cerebrovascular disease and/or syncope) within the past year. Two patients died because antemortem diagnosis was late or missed. One patient was successfully treated. Cardiac myxoma produces protean clinical manifestations that do not always include cardiac signs and symptoms. Neurologists may be called on for diagnostic consultation in patients who will prove to have cardiac myxoma. Unexplained transient ischemic attacks, cerebral infarction, or syncope (with possible features of seizure activity) are common neurologic manifestations of this disease. Additionally, systemic symptoms, signs, and laboratory data suggestive of collagen vascular disease or vasculitis are also often present. Echocardiography is a dependable noninvasive procedure for a confirmation of diagnosis in suspected cases.

Cardiac tumours simulating collagen vascular disease.

“…Table 1 lists clinical features and their prominence in fifteen cases that were similar to the three we have reported above. Fever 0 (3) Lupus erythematosus cells 6 Weight loss 1 (9) Antinuclear antibody 5 Myalgia 0 (7) Rheumatoid factor 5 Chest pain 1(3) Cryoglobulins 4…”

Syncope

“…In addition, left atrial thrombus or left atrial myxoma with prolapse through the mitral valve during diastole may limit left ventricular inflow. Positional syncope is one of the hallmarks of this abnormality [47,48].…”

Zur Klinik der Herzmyxome

“…Die Embolisation von Myxomgewebe in intrakranielle GefO.Be kann entweder zur Isch~mie und akuter Encephalomalacie ffihren, oder es kann, wie es in einem einzigen Fall des eigenen Krankengutes beobachtet wurde, durch Infiltration von Tumorgewebe in die Gef'O.13intima zu einer Wandschw~ichung und zur Ausbildung von Aneurysmen kommen [42]. Linksseitig gelegene Myxome k6nnen bei Obstruktionen die Symptome einer Mitralstenose oder Insuffizienz vort~uschen.…”