title: Catastrophic systemic embolization from a left atrial myxoma.
abstract: We report the fatal course of a left atrial myxoma: its systemic embolization to the coronary, cerebral, renal, and peripheral vascular beds in a 39-year-old woman resulted in rapid clinical deterioration, multiorgan failure, and death. Among reported cases of left atrial myxoma, this degree of embolic burden is exceedingly rare. In addition to reporting the patient's case, we discuss the presentation and diagnosis of possible intracardiac sources of systemic emboli.
authors: Division of Cardiology (Drs. Kumar, Mackie, Rab, Shirazi, and Williams), Emory University School of Medicine; and Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (Dr. Swadley), Emory University Hospital; Atlanta, Georgia 30322.
authors: Benjamin D
authors: BD
authors: Mackie
authors: Farheen
authors: F
authors: Shirazi
authors: Matthew J
authors: MJ
authors: Swadley
authors: Byron R
authors: BR
authors: Williams
authors: Gautam
authors: G
authors: Kumar
authors: S Tanveer
authors: ST
authors: Rab
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001706:Biopsy; D002388:Catastrophic Illness; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D054059:Coronary Occlusion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000473:pathology; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D009232:Myxoma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000473:pathology*; D012078:Renal Artery Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D012307:Risk Factors