Embolization of cardiac myxomas masquerading as polyarteritis nodosa.
Cardiac myxomas are rare tumors which can mimic other diseases. We describe a 19-year-old man who presented clinically with polyarteritis nodosa (PAN). Muscle biopsy showed vasculitis, but corticosteroid and immunosuppressive therapy was initially effective. Cardiac myxomas were found by echocardiogram when the disease relapsed and were resected surgically. Segmental arterial aneurysms and stenoses were found on angiography after leg ischemia. We suggest that echocardiography should be performed in all cases of clinically suspected PAN.
Department of Medicine, Hopital Charles Nicolle, Tunis, Tunisia.
K
K
Boussen
M
M
Moalla
P
P
Blondeau
H
H
Ben Ayed
J T
JT
Lie
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004452:Echocardiography; D004617:Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D009132:Muscles / Q000473:pathology; D009232:Myxoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D010488:Polyarteritis Nodosa / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents