Cardiac Myxomas with Systemic Embolization

Abstract
A case of left atrial myxohemangioendothelioma, diagnosed ante mortem by removing a tumor embolus to the bifurcation of the aorta, is reported. The patient had been misdiagnosed as having had rheumatic heart disease with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and embolization to the right middle cerebral artery. In retrospect, because of the characteristics of the second heart sound and absence of an opening snap, a rheumatic etiology should have been questioned. The literature regarding embolization of atrial myxomas has been reviewed.