A Case Report of Central Retinal Artery Occlusion Caused by Cardiac Myxoma

Abstract

Purpose: We report the case of a patient diagnosed with central retinal artery occlusion caused by cardiac myxoma who underwent surgery to remove the myxoma. Case summary: A 47-year-old woman came to our clinic presenting with a sudden decrease of visual acuity in the left eye. At the first visit, left eye visual acuity was hand motion, and intraocular pressure was 15.4 mmHg. A relative afferent pupillary defect was observed in the left eye. On fundus examination, a pale retina and cherry-red spot were observed at the posterior pole. On optical coherence tomography, macular edema was found. On fluorescein angiography and indocyanine green angiography, delayed blood circulation of the retina and choroid was found at early and late stages. Cerebral angiography was performed in the neurosurgery department and showed no occlusion of the ophthalmic artery. Cardiac ultrasonography and brain magnetic resonance imaging were performed. On cardiac ultrasonography, 4.46 x 2.09 cm cardiac myxoma was found. Resection of the cardiac myxoma was conducted in the thoracic and cardiovascular surgery department. Multiple cerebral infarcts were detected by brain imaging, and antithrombotic treatment was administered. After one month, blood circulation in the retina and choroid was observed in fluorescence angiography, but there was no improvement of visual acuity. At the 3-month follow-up visit, macular edema was decreased, but retinal atrophy and epiretinal membrane were observed on optical coherence tomography. Conclusions: Central retinal artery occlusion is a disease related to one's general condition. We experienced this case of central retinal artery occlusion caused by cardiac myxoma.