A rare case of a big left ventricular myxoma presenting with a cerebrovascular stroke

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Cardiac myxomas are by far the most common primary tumors of the heart. Left ventricular (LV) myxomas are extremely rare with only 37 cases reported in the literature up to 1996. Patients with myxomas can have a wide range of symptoms. Embolic event and/or cerebrovascular stroke can be the presenting scenario. Case presentation A 35-year-old Asian male patient presented with a clinical picture of an acute cerebrovascular stroke. A routine trans-thoracic echocardiography showed a big left ventricular grape-like mass attached to the inferior septum and bulging through the aortic valve during systole. Surgical resection of the tumor done successfully and the histo-pathological examination of the resected tumor confirmed the diagnosis of myxoma. After surgery, the patient showed complete improvement of his neurological status and went home three weeks later free from any neurological deficit. Conclusion Left ventricular (LV) myxomas are extremely rare. Cerebrovascular stroke can be the presenting symptom. Surgical resection is the treatment of choice.