Multiple emboli from left ventricular myxoma.

A 25-year-old man was admitted on June 17, 1967, with a right hemiplegia of sudden onset. Three episodes of pain, swelling, and red blotchy discoloration of both feet and legs, each lasting 2 to 4 weeks, had occurred over the preceding year. During this period, he noticed transient burning and tingling in his fingers. He was apyrexial and normotensive; pulse rate 90/ min.; atrial fibrillation was evident. Patchy reddishblue discoloration of both feet and toes was noted, and the right fifth toe was cyanotic. The right foot was colder than the left, with diminished pulsation of the right dorsalis pedis artery. Apart from irregularity, auscultation of the heart was normal. The patient was drowsy and restless, and moderate motor dysphasia was present. There was a right homonymous hemianopia with impairment of conjugate gaze to the right, a marked right lower facial weakness,