A Case Report of Atrial Myxoma presenting with Cardioembolic Stroke and treated with Intravenous Thrombolytic Therapy

Abstract

IntroductionAtrial myxomas are the commonest cardiac tumors. Despite being benign, embolic phenomenon occurs in approximately 40-50 % of cases either to the brain or elsewhere in the vascular tree. The embolic source may be composed of tumor tissue itself, blood clot or both [1]. AbstractBackground: Cardiac myxomas are a potential source of emboli to the brain and elsewhere in the vascular tree. Myxomas are the most common benign primary cardiac tumor in adults. The commonest location of cardiac myxomas is in the left atrium followed by the right atrium and the remainder develops in the ventricles and rarely in the heart valves. Embolic events occur in approximately 40-50% of patients with myxomas. Crebrovascular strokes secondary to myxomas account for less than 1% of all ischemic strokes but should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with stroke in young.