Abstract
A 73-year-old female presented with sudden reduced level of consciousness on the background of rheumatoid arthritis and dyslipidaemia. On examination she had a Glascow Coma Score of 12 and an irregularly irregular pulse. The electrocardiograph confirmed atrial fibrillation and showed widespread T wave inversion. A computed tomography cerebral angiogram showed an acute basilar artery occlusion. She was transferred to a tertiary centre where she had successful endovascular clot retrieval. An urgent transthoracic echocardiogram (figure 1) showed apical hypertrophy, normal systolic function and a large right atrial mass. The left atrial size was normal. A transoesophageal echocardiogram (figure 3) confirmed a large pedunculated mobile mass with a hypermobile septum consistent with a patent foramen ovale. There was no right to left doppler flow, however the atrial mass obstructed the course, and a bubble study was positive. The cardiac magnetic resonance image (figure 2) showed a 47 x 48 mm pedunculated lesion within the right atrium, arising from the intraventricular septum, demonstrating moderate T2 signal intensity, and intermediate T1 signal intensity, with avid enhancement, consistent with a right atrial myxoma. There was increased apical wall thickening at 15mm which confirmed apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. An open surgical resection and left atrial appendage ligation was performed on day 11 of admission. Histopathology confirmed an atrial myxoma. She had an excellent neurological recovery with only mild diplopia. The mechanism of stroke was likely atrial fibrillation secondary to increased left atrial pressure from apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. However, the unexpected finding of a right atrial myxoma with a corresponding patent foramen ovale provides a second possible mechanism.
Abstract P1699 Figure. Right atrial Myxoma