Manifestaciones neurológicas de los mixomas cardiacos. Experiencia en un centro de referencia / Neurological manifestations of cardiac myxoma: Experience in a referral hospital

Introducción: El mixoma cardiaco es una causa poco frecuente pero importante de infarto cerebral en pacientes jóvenes. Existen pocas series de pacientes que analicen la frecuencia de las manifestaciones neurológicas en pacientes con mixoma y su presentación clínica. Objetivo: Conocer las complicaciones neurológicas del mixoma cardiaco en nuestro hospital durante los últimos 28 años. Pacientes y métodos: Revisión retrospectiva de las manifestaciones neurológicas de 36 pacientes operados de mixoma cardiaco con confirmación patológica en nuestro centro desde diciembre de 1983 hasta marzo del 2012. Resultados: Ocho de los 36 pacientes con mixomas cardiacos (22%) intervenidos en nuestro centro presentaron clínica neurológica. El 50% eran mujeres y la edad media ± desviación estándar de 52,4 ± 11,6 años. El síntoma neurológico más frecuente fue la hemiparesia de aparición brusca (63%). El ictus isquémico establecido fue la manifestación clínica más frecuente (75%), seguido del accidente isquémico transitorio. El territorio más afectado fue el de la arteria cerebral media. En todos los casos se alcanzó el diagnóstico del tumor mediante ecocardiografía. El tamaño medio del mixoma fue de 4,12 cm. La mayoría (63%) presentaba una superficie polipoide. Todos los tumores fueron resecados quirúrgicamente con éxito. No hubo muertes hospitalarias. Conclusiones: Los mixomas cardíacos comienzan frecuentemente con manifestaciones neurológicas, en particular como eventos isquémicos (AIT o ictus establecidos) en pacientes jóvenes y sin factores de riesgo cardiovascular. El territorio anterior, en especial la arteria cerebral media, suele estar más frecuentemente afectado. La ecocardiografía puede facilitar el diagnóstico y permitir un tratamiento precoz de la lesión (AU)

Introduction: Cardiac myxoma is an important but uncommon cause of stroke in younger patients. Few published case series analyse the frequency and clinical presentation of neurological complications in patients with myxoma. Objective: To list all neurological complications from cardiac myxoma recorded in our hospital in the past 28 years. Patients and methods: We retrospectively reviewed the neurological manifestations of cardiac myxoma in patients treated in our hospital between December 1983 and March 2012. Results: Of the 36 patients with cardiac myxoma, 8 (22%) presented neurological manifestations. Half were women and mean age of patients was 52.4 ± 11.6 years. Sudden-onset hemiparesis was the most frequent neurological symptom (63%). Established ischaemic stroke was the most common clinical manifestation (75%), followed by transient ischemic attack. The most commonly affected territory corresponded to the middle cerebral artery. Myxoma was diagnosed by echocardiography in all cases. Mean myxoma size was 4.1 cm and most of the tumours (63%) had a polypoid surface. All tumours were successfully removed by surgery. There were no in-hospital deaths. Conclusions: Cardiac myxomas frequently present with neurological symptoms, especially ischaemic events (established stroke or transient ischaemic attack), in younger patients with no cardiovascular risk factors. The anterior circulation is more frequently affected, especially the middle cerebral artery. Echocardiography can facilitate prompt diagnosis and early treatment of the lesion (AU)

Neurological manifestations of cardiac myxoma: experience in a referral hospital.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiac myxoma is an important but uncommon cause of stroke in younger patients. Few published case series analyse the frequency and clinical presentation of neurological complications in patients with myxoma. OBJECTIVE: To list all neurological complications from cardiac myxoma recorded in our hospital in the past 28 years. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the neurological manifestations of cardiac myxoma in patients treated in our hospital between December 1983 and March 2012. RESULTS: Of the 36 patients with cardiac myxoma, 8 (22%) presented neurological manifestations. Half were women and mean age of patients was 52.4 ± 11.6 years. Sudden-onset hemiparesis was the most frequent neurological symptom (63%). Established ischaemic stroke was the most common clinical manifestation (75%), followed by transient ischemic attack. The most commonly affected territory corresponded to the middle cerebral artery. Myxoma was diagnosed by echocardiography in all cases. Mean myxoma size was 4.1cm and most of the tumours (63%) had a polypoid surface. All tumours were successfully removed by surgery. There were no in-hospital deaths. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac myxomas frequently present with neurological symptoms, especially ischaemic events (established stroke or transient ischaemic attack), in younger patients with no cardiovascular risk factors. The anterior circulation is more frequently affected, especially the middle cerebral artery. Echocardiography can facilitate prompt diagnosis and early treatment of the lesion.