Left atrial myxoma presenting with recurrent, bilateral thalamic infarction in a child

Abstract

Abstract Stroke in children is a rare entity, with long-term consequences. Cardiac causes constitute a significant majority in pediatric stroke; however, atrial myxomas as a cause of pediatric stroke are rare. Neurological manifestations may be the presenting feature of atrial myxomas, even before the appearance of constitutional symptoms. The most common regions reported to be affected are basal ganglia, temporal, and parietal regions. Thalamus is less commonly affected. We hereby report the case of a 13-year-old girl, who presented with acute onset of left hemiparesis, whose magnetic resonance imaging of the brain revealed acute infarction of the right thalamus with multiple old infarcts in bilateral thalami, and transthoracic echocardiography showed a left atrial myxoma.