[Simultaneous occlusion of the abdominal aorta and both internal carotid arteries as the presenting symptoms of left atrial myxoma].
Myxoma is a benign tumour but which has redoubtable embolic complications. When situated in the left atrium, the emboli obstruct, in the majority of cases, the cerebral arteries, occasionally the visceral or coronary arteries, and, very rarely, the aorta. In this case, the authors report an atypical presentation with ischaemia of the lower half of the body, associated with pulmonary oedema and deep coma. The left atrial myxoma was responsible for complete and simultaneous obstruction of the internal carotid arteries and the infra-renal abdominal aorta. This report illustrates the fact that myxoma can be responsible for massive, life-threatening, embolisation.
Corneloup
L
L
Service de réanimation médicale, CHU de Poitiers, hôpital Jean-Bernard, BP 577, 86021 Poitiers.
Planchard
D
D
Demarque
C
C
Hira
M
M
Frat
J P
JP
Goujon
J M
JM
Robert
R
R
D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000473:pathology; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000473:pathology; D003128:Coma / Q000209:etiology; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000473:pathology; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009232:Myxoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000209:etiology