A cardiac myxoma with interleukin-6 production and cerebral metastasis

Int J Cardiol. 1994 Jun 15;45(2):144-6. doi: 10.1016/0167-5273(94)90272-0.

Abstract

The occurrence of cerebral metastasis from cardiac myxoma is extremely rare. We present a 70-year-old man who had atrial myxoma with two metastatic myxomas in his brain. Histopathologic examination revealed a benign myxoma. An elevated interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentration in the serum, and immunohistochemical staining of the primary myxoma by an anti-IL-6 monoclonal antibody confirmed interleukin production by the myxoma. The IL-6-positive myxoma cells were closely attached to the cerebral endothelial cells. This suggests that IL-6 production by the atrial myxoma may have been an important factor for intravascular metastasis or embolization.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism*
  • Brain / pathology
  • Brain Neoplasms / pathology
  • Brain Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Heart Atria / pathology
  • Heart Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-6 / metabolism*
  • Male
  • Myxoma / pathology*

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Interleukin-6