Endocarditis on a left atrial myxoma.
A 55-year-old woman presented with fever and malaise. Three blood cultures were positive for Streptococcus sanguis. A diagnosis of endocarditis was made and the patient was treated with intravenous penicillin and gentamicin. Endocardiography revealed a large left atrial tumour. At operation a myxoma covered by deposits of fibrin was excised. Microscopy revealed massive infiltrates of neutrophils and remnants of bacteria, indicating that this myxoma was a nest for infection.
ten Berg
J M
JM
St Antonius Hospital, Nieuwegein, The Netherlands.
Elbers
H R
HR
Defauw
J J
JJ
Plokker
H W
HW
D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009232:Myxoma / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000382:microbiology*; D013298:Streptococcus sanguis / Q000302:isolation & purification*