Neurological Complications of Cardiac Tumors

Cardiac metastasis causes paradoxical malignant embolism

“…The ineffectiveness of anticoagulant therapy in the prevention of malignant arterial embolism underlines the importance of histological examination of thromboembolic material in cancer patients. Additionally, some benign (myxoma or papillary fibroelastoma) and in rare cases malignant cardiac tumors (undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, angiosarcoma or rhabdomyoma) are regularly diagnosed by histological examination of embolic vessel obliterations and are underlying causes of strokes 15 …”

Successful endovascular removal of a chondroblastic osteosarcoma embolus within the left middle cerebral artery

“…It is well documented that ischemic stroke can be caused by emboli from intracardiac tumors of cardiac origin, and several of these cases have been treated with mechanical embolectomy. [5][6][7][8][9][10][11] Zander et al 12 and Pop et al 13 have each reported a case of noncardiac tumor emboli (lung carcinoma and sarcomatoid thoracic carcinoma, respectively) treated with endovascular embolectomy. Our case represents the third such case of a noncardiac tumorrelated stroke treated with endovascular embolectomy.…”

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging and its role in the investigation of stroke: an update

“…The majority of primary cardiac tumors are benign and myxomas are the most frequent type [41]. They are typically attached to the atrial septum, although they may occur in any cavity (Fig.…”

“…They are small and highly mobile masses, homogeneous and hypointense on cine images, isointense on T1 and hyperintense on T2, and heterogeneous with contrast enhancement allowing for their differential diagnosis from vegetations. Clinically, fibroelastomas can be asymptomatic or associated with systemic embolization [41]. Lipomas are benign tumors that often arise from the epicardial surface.…”

“…Primary malignant tumors are rare, more frequently sarcomas or less often lymphomas, while metastatic tumors are 20-40 × more frequent [41]. Malignant tumors may be intramural but often protrude into the cardiac cavities and may embolize.…”