Abstract
Cardiac myxoma is a slowly growing benign intracavitary neoplasm most frequently occurring in the left atrium. Embolization from this friable, supposedly benign tumor may cause a variety of neurologic symptoms and signs. A case of left atrial myxoma with cerebral infarction and a monstrous aneurysm of the left middle cerebral artery is reported.
A 54-year-old woman was admitted because of fever, right hemiparesis, and dysphasia. M-mode and cross-sectional echocardiograms revealed a large mass in the left atrial cavity. Successful surgical removal of the tumor was accomplished by open heart surgery. This patient was transferred to the department of neurology and left carotid angiography was done, and a monstrous aneurysm of the left middle cerebral artery was found. She was therefore transferred to the department of neurosurgery. The neck of this monstrous aneurysm was partially clipped and the residual parts were encased with many small gauzes, and the aneurysm was partially cut for pathological examination, but no infiltration of the myxomatous tissue was seen. Sequential computed tomography showed the growing process of this aneurysm.
