We report an unusual presentation of a large left atrial myxoma in an eight-year-old girl who presented with the sudden onset of chorea. This case illustrates the fact that the presentation of chorea in nonendemic areas for rheumatic fever should raise suspicion for a myxoma. The chorea resolved soon after removal of the myxoma, supporting the hypothesis of an immune-mediated mechanism, or manifestation of paraneoplastic syndrome secondary to the myxoma.
HolleyDGMartinGRBrennerJI, et al.Diagnosis and management of fetal cardiac tumors: a multicenter experience and review of published reports. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1995;26(2):516–520.
2.
SellkeFWLemmerJHVandenbergBFEhrenhaftJL. Surgical treatment of cardiac myxomas: long-term results. Ann Thorac Surg. 1990;50(4):557–561.
3.
PadalinoMAVidaVLBoccuzzoG, et al.Surgery for primary cardiac tumors in children: early and late results in a multicenter European Congenital Heart Surgeons Association study. Circulation. 2012;126(1):22–30.
4.
McAllisterHAJr. Primary tumors of the heart and pericardium. Pathol Annu. 1979;14(pt 2):325–355.
5.
CarneyJAHruskaLSBeauchampGDGordonH. Dominant inheritance of the complex of myxomas, spotty pigmentation, and endocrine over activity. Mayo Clin Proc. 1986;61(3):165–172.
6.
SmithMJChaudhryMAHumphreyMBLozanoPM. Atrial myxoma and bone changes: a paraneoplastic syndrome?J Card Surg. 2011;26(4):375–377.
