의식 저하를 주소로 내원한 13세 여아
13-year-old girl presented with confused mentality: role of echocardiograhpy for embolic stroke
Abstract
Cardiac tumors are rare in children and rarely cause cerebrovascular disease. However, friable myxoma, especially in left side heart, should be considered as cardiac embolic source of stroke. 13-year-old girl visited our emergency department with confused mentality after generalized tonic seizure with upward eyeball deviation. Vital sign was stable, but her mentality was not recorvered despite of conservative management. Brain MRI was performed which revealed multifocal bilateral cerebral and cerebellar stroke, most severely involved at left temporoparietal lobe (Fig.1). Echocardiography showed that huge myxoma in left atrium which across to the left ventricle via the mitral valve (Fig. 2). The huge, friable mass could cause further embolic stroke when untreated, we decided cardiac surgery despite of confused mentality and some chance of microembolic strkoe during cardiac bypass. The surgery was uneventful and the tumor was completely resected. The gross specimen was compatible to myxomas which have a yellowish smooth surface, and some of tumors showed hemorrhagic change (Fig. 3). The clinical course was somewhat inspiring. The patient came around clearly and neurologic sequeale was minimal. Impared fine motor of right hand and mild dysarthria was improved during 1 year of rehabillitaion, and visual imparement due to retinal artery occlusion was slightly remained. Embolic stroke is an uncommon phenomenon in children and the differntial diagnosis is challenging. Nevertheless, pediatricians should aware myxoma as cardiac cause of embolic stroke, and simple echocardiography may prevent subequent strokes and save the life.