Catastrophic systemic embolization from a left atrial myxoma

Benjamin D Mackie; Farheen Shirazi; Matthew J Swadley; Byron R Williams 3rd; Gautam Kumar; S Tanveer Rab

doi:10.14503/THIJ-12-2964

Catastrophic systemic embolization from a left atrial myxoma

Tex Heart Inst J. 2014 Feb;41(1):64-6. doi: 10.14503/THIJ-12-2964.

Authors

Benjamin D Mackie¹, Farheen Shirazi, Matthew J Swadley, Byron R Williams 3rd, Gautam Kumar, S Tanveer Rab

Affiliation

¹ Division of Cardiology (Drs. Kumar, Mackie, Rab, Shirazi, and Williams), Emory University School of Medicine; and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (Dr. Swadley), Emory University Hospital; Atlanta, Georgia 30322.

Abstract

We report the fatal course of a left atrial myxoma: its systemic embolization to the coronary, cerebral, renal, and peripheral vascular beds in a 39-year-old woman resulted in rapid clinical deterioration, multiorgan failure, and death. Among reported cases of left atrial myxoma, this degree of embolic burden is exceedingly rare. In addition to reporting the patient's case, we discuss the presentation and diagnosis of possible intracardiac sources of systemic emboli.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Adult
Biopsy
Catastrophic Illness
Coronary Angiography
Coronary Occlusion / diagnosis
Coronary Occlusion / etiology*
Fatal Outcome
Female
Heart Atria / pathology
Heart Neoplasms / complications
Heart Neoplasms / pathology*
Humans
Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / diagnosis
Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / etiology*
Multiple Organ Failure / diagnosis
Multiple Organ Failure / etiology
Myxoma / complications
Myxoma / pathology*
Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / pathology*
Renal Artery Obstruction / diagnosis
Renal Artery Obstruction / etiology*
Risk Factors