Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm after resection of an infected cardiac myxoma.

Abstract

A 12-year-old girl with a high fever underwent echocardiography and was found to have a myxoma that arose from the atrial side of the anterior mitral valve leaflet. The tumor was successfully excised. Histologic examination of the tumor showed myxoma cells and an organized thrombus with bacterial colonization. The patient was discharged from the hospital on antibiotic treatment. After remaining asymptomatic for 3 weeks, she was readmitted with acute abdomen. Ultrasonography and magnetic resonance angiography detected intra-abdominal hemorrhaging and a saccular aneurysm of the abdominal aorta. The patient underwent successful emergency surgery. To our knowledge, no other report has been published concerning an abdominal aortic aneurysm secondary to bacterial infection of a cardiac myxoma. Although complications this severe are rarely observed in patients who have endocarditis, early recognition and treatment can be life-saving.