[Myxoma of the pulmonary infundibulum as the cause of sudden death in an 18-month-old infant].
BACKGROUND
Myxoma, a benign cardiac tumor, develops in intracavitary locations. It is most frequent in the left atrium, but rare in the pulmonary infundibulum.


METHODS
An 18 month-old girl suddenly became cyanotic during playing and lost consciousness. Resuscitation was ineffective. Post-mortem examination showed diffuse pulmonary edema and multiple small pulmonary emboli. There was a myxoma of the septal wall of pulmonary infundibulum and histological examination showed that the infundibulum and the pulmonary valve were completely infiltrated by myxoid tissue.


CONCLUSIONS
The death of this girl was probably due to a sudden embolism of blood clots developed in contact with the myxoma. This case emphasizes the need for pathologic investigation in all cases of sudden death.
Service d'Anatomie et de Cytologie Pathologiques et du Centre d'Urgence et de Diagnostic Rapide, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, Paris.
J F
JF
Emile
C
C
Rambaud
D
D
Canioni
F
F
Jaubert
N
N
Brousse
G
G
Chéron
D005260:Female; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009232:Myxoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D011651:Pulmonary Artery; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000150:complications; D013398:Sudden Infant Death / Q000209:etiology*