Brainstem stroke caused by left atrial cardiac papillary fibroelastoma: an increasingly recognized rare cause of stroke

Cardiovasc Pathol. 2019 May-Jun:40:65-67. doi: 10.1016/j.carpath.2019.01.007. Epub 2019 Feb 7.

Abstract

Cardiac papillary fibroelastoma is a rare but increasingly recognized cause of embolic stroke that is prevalent in the older population and requires prompt surgical management. We report an unusual case of left atrial appendage cardiac fibroelastoma in a 76-year-old gentleman who presented with left internuclear ophthalmoplegia and ataxia, with corresponding diffusion-weighted imaging on magnetic resonance imaging of the brain. This case illustrates the importance of echocardiographic imaging in the workup of cardioembolic stroke in the older adult population in the acute setting.

Keywords: Atrium; Cardiac papillary fibroelastoma; Embolic stroke; Older adults; Transesophageal echocardiography.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Video-Audio Media

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Atrial Appendage / diagnostic imaging
  • Atrial Appendage / pathology*
  • Atrial Appendage / surgery
  • Biopsy
  • Brain Stem Infarctions / diagnostic imaging
  • Brain Stem Infarctions / etiology*
  • Cerebral Angiography / methods
  • Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Echocardiography, Transesophageal
  • Fibroma / complications*
  • Fibroma / diagnostic imaging
  • Fibroma / pathology
  • Fibroma / surgery
  • Heart Neoplasms / complications*
  • Heart Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Heart Neoplasms / pathology
  • Heart Neoplasms / surgery
  • Humans
  • Intracranial Embolism / diagnostic imaging
  • Intracranial Embolism / etiology*
  • Magnetic Resonance Angiography
  • Male
  • Risk Factors
  • Treatment Outcome