Infected atrial myxoma.

A patient with an infected atrial myxoma presented with clinical findings simulating bacterial endocarditis. The diagnosis was made with echocardiography, thus demonstrating the value of this rapid, noninvasive screening test. A ruptured mycotic aneurysm in the brain precluded early surgical excision of the tumor. The rapid evolution of this case to a fatal outcome underscores the need for prompt diagnosis.