A case of multi-system signs and symptoms unified under the diagnosis of atrial myxoma.
Patients often present to the Emergency Department (ED) with a constellation of seemingly unassociated complaints. It is a clinical challenge not only to address all signs and symptoms that concern the patient but to reconcile these incongruous findings into one all-encompassing diagnosis. We present the case of a 48-year-old man who manifested neurologic, cardiac, and constitutional signs and symptoms in the ED. Through historic clues, physical examination findings, and electrocardiogram, we obtained an urgent cardiac ultrasound that demonstrated a large left atrial myxoma. This one disease entity was able to explain all of the patient's diverse findings.
West
Brian T
BT
Genesys Regional Medical Center/Michigan State University Affiliated Emergency Medicine Program, Grand Blanc, Michigan.
Kaluza
Amy
A
D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009232:Myxoma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D010808:Physical Examination