Point-of-care ultrasound to complete physical exam and to reach the diagnosis in a young man with syncope
Abstract Background Cardiac syncope can result from an atrial myxoma due to outflow obstruction. Myxoma is the most common primary cardiac tumor that may cause sudden death and the nonspecific symptoms may make early diagnosis difficult. Case presentation A 27-year-old man presented to our emergency...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SpringerOpen
2020-05-01
|
| Series: | The Ultrasound Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13089-020-00176-5 |
| _version_ | 1818428804836622336 |
|---|---|
| author | Fatemeh Rasooli Mehrnoosh Aligholi Zahraie Maryam Bahreini |
| author_facet | Fatemeh Rasooli Mehrnoosh Aligholi Zahraie Maryam Bahreini |
| author_sort | Fatemeh Rasooli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Cardiac syncope can result from an atrial myxoma due to outflow obstruction. Myxoma is the most common primary cardiac tumor that may cause sudden death and the nonspecific symptoms may make early diagnosis difficult. Case presentation A 27-year-old man presented to our emergency department after two episodes of syncope and severe fatigue. He had no complaint of fever, weight loss, sweating, chest pain or dyspnea. Vital signs were within normal limits. A loud heart S1 was detected and normal neck veins. Other systemic examinations including neurological assessment were normal. Electrocardiography showed normal sinus rhythm. An obvious variability in heart rate was noticed on cardiac monitor changing by the patient’s position. Point-of-care ultrasonography (PoCUS) showed a large hyperechoic lesion with a well-defined stalk originating from the left atrium (LA). Thus, the patient was transferred to a cardiac surgery center for surgical intervention. Histopathology reported an LA mass compatible with myxoma. Conclusions Emergency physicians should be familiar with the vague presentations of cardiac tumors to improve patient outcomes. It is beneficial to take advantage of bedside ultrasound for prompt diagnosis and subsequent treatment. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T15:07:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-23dda4476106484399af9a808f88d837 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2524-8987 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T15:07:27Z |
| publishDate | 2020-05-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Ultrasound Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-23dda4476106484399af9a808f88d8372022-12-21T22:56:39ZengSpringerOpenThe Ultrasound Journal2524-89872020-05-011211310.1186/s13089-020-00176-5Point-of-care ultrasound to complete physical exam and to reach the diagnosis in a young man with syncopeFatemeh Rasooli0Mehrnoosh Aligholi Zahraie1Maryam Bahreini2Department of Emergency Medicine, Tehran University of Medical SciencesDepartment of Emergency Medicine, Tehran University of Medical SciencesPrehospital and Hospital Emergency Research Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Tehran University of Medical SciencesAbstract Background Cardiac syncope can result from an atrial myxoma due to outflow obstruction. Myxoma is the most common primary cardiac tumor that may cause sudden death and the nonspecific symptoms may make early diagnosis difficult. Case presentation A 27-year-old man presented to our emergency department after two episodes of syncope and severe fatigue. He had no complaint of fever, weight loss, sweating, chest pain or dyspnea. Vital signs were within normal limits. A loud heart S1 was detected and normal neck veins. Other systemic examinations including neurological assessment were normal. Electrocardiography showed normal sinus rhythm. An obvious variability in heart rate was noticed on cardiac monitor changing by the patient’s position. Point-of-care ultrasonography (PoCUS) showed a large hyperechoic lesion with a well-defined stalk originating from the left atrium (LA). Thus, the patient was transferred to a cardiac surgery center for surgical intervention. Histopathology reported an LA mass compatible with myxoma. Conclusions Emergency physicians should be familiar with the vague presentations of cardiac tumors to improve patient outcomes. It is beneficial to take advantage of bedside ultrasound for prompt diagnosis and subsequent treatment.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13089-020-00176-5Atrial myxomaSyncopeOutflow obstruction |
| spellingShingle | Fatemeh Rasooli Mehrnoosh Aligholi Zahraie Maryam Bahreini Point-of-care ultrasound to complete physical exam and to reach the diagnosis in a young man with syncope The Ultrasound Journal Atrial myxoma Syncope Outflow obstruction |
| title | Point-of-care ultrasound to complete physical exam and to reach the diagnosis in a young man with syncope |
| title_full | Point-of-care ultrasound to complete physical exam and to reach the diagnosis in a young man with syncope |
| title_fullStr | Point-of-care ultrasound to complete physical exam and to reach the diagnosis in a young man with syncope |
| title_full_unstemmed | Point-of-care ultrasound to complete physical exam and to reach the diagnosis in a young man with syncope |
| title_short | Point-of-care ultrasound to complete physical exam and to reach the diagnosis in a young man with syncope |
| title_sort | point of care ultrasound to complete physical exam and to reach the diagnosis in a young man with syncope |
| topic | Atrial myxoma Syncope Outflow obstruction |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13089-020-00176-5 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT fatemehrasooli pointofcareultrasoundtocompletephysicalexamandtoreachthediagnosisinayoungmanwithsyncope AT mehrnooshaligholizahraie pointofcareultrasoundtocompletephysicalexamandtoreachthediagnosisinayoungmanwithsyncope AT maryambahreini pointofcareultrasoundtocompletephysicalexamandtoreachthediagnosisinayoungmanwithsyncope |