Total Occlusion of The Infrarenal Aorta by Cardiac Myxoma: Emergent Surgical Management

Cardiac myxomas are the most common primary tumor of the heart, and they cause systemic embolization if they are located in the left atrium. We present a rare case of a left atrial myxoma resulting in total occlusion of the infrarenal abdominal aorta. A 60-year-old man was admitted to the hospital because of back pain with paresthesia in the lower extremities, and subsequent development of paraplegia. Computed tomography (CT) showed evidence of total occlusion of the infrarenal aorta. Emergent surgery was performed. Intraoperative specimen removed from the aorta was histologically found to be a myxomatous-like material. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) revealed a mass located in the left atrium. Despite the second surgery for the removal of cardiac mass, embolism attacks caused by myxoma could not be prevented. Prompt diagnosis and therefore prompt treatment can improve clinical outcomes by preventing embolization-related complications.