Mechanical endovascular treatment of acute stroke due to cardiac myxoma.

Background: Myxomas are rare cardiac tumors which often present with stroke caused by tumorous or thrombotic emboli. Treatment with intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) and intra-arterial thrombolysis has been described previously but mechanical thrombectomy has not yet been reported, and treatment of myxoma-related ischemic stroke remains a clinical and technical challenge.

Methods: Two patients with ischemic stroke due to cardiac myxoma in which mechanical thrombectomy was performed are presented.