Mechanical endovascular treatment of acute stroke due to cardiac myxoma.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Myxomas are rare cardiac tumors which often present with stroke caused by tumorous or thrombotic emboli. Treatment with intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) and intra-arterial thrombolysis has been described previously but mechanical thrombectomy has not yet been reported, and treatment of myxoma-related ischemic stroke remains a clinical and technical challenge.

METHODS:

Two patients with ischemic stroke due to cardiac myxoma in which mechanical thrombectomy was performed are presented.

RESULTS:

Endovascular thrombectomy after intravenous rtPA (bridging therapy) was safely achieved in both cases, although with different clinical outcomes and degrees of recanalization.

CONCLUSIONS:

In stroke secondary to cardiac myxoma, mechanical thrombectomy might represent a safe and effective treatment option. The authors suggest the use of histological examination of the clot for diagnosis as its composition may explain the differences in treatment outcome.

• Authors: Sara Garcia-Ptacek, Jordi A Matias-Guiu, Cristina Valencia-Sánchez, Alberto Gil, Israel Bernal-Becerra, Virginia De las Heras-Revilla, Carmen Serna-Candel
• Journal: Journal of neurointerventional surgery (J Neurointerv Surg) Vol. 6 Issue 1 Pg. e1 (Jan 2014) ISSN: 1759-8486 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 22791184 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Topics

• Adult
• Endovascular Procedures (methods)
• Heart Neoplasms (complications, diagnosis, surgery)
• Humans
• Middle Aged
• Myxoma (complications, diagnosis, surgery)
• Stroke (diagnosis, etiology, surgery)
• Treatment Outcome