Key Questions
1. What is primary cardiac intimal sarcoma?
Primary cardiac intimal sarcoma is an extremely rare type of cardiac malignancy, typically presenting with symptoms of cardiac dysfunction but can also manifest through systemic emboli like stroke.
2. How can cryptogenic stroke be related to cardiac malignancies?
Cryptogenic stroke may sometimes be caused by emboli from an undiagnosed cardiac malignancy, as in this case where a large left atrial mass was later identified as an intimal sarcoma.
3. What diagnostic steps are recommended for cryptogenic stroke?
Echocardiography should be considered a first-line investigation for cryptogenic stroke, even in the absence of cardiac symptoms, to identify potential cardiac sources of embolism.
4. What are the treatment options and prognosis for cardiac intimal sarcoma?
Treatment primarily involves surgical resection, sometimes followed by radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Prognosis remains poor, with mean survival between 3 and 12 months.
