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Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance for the Evaluation of Suspected Cardiac Thrombus: Conventional and Emerging Techniques
Published on: June 11, 2019
Extensive coronary thrombus causing full thickness myocardial infarction
Nicholas Curzen1, Robert Hatrick, Charles Peebles
1Wessex Cardiac Unit, Southampton University Hospital, Southampton, UK. nick.curzen@suht.swest.nhs.uk
Insights
This case study highlights a young male with ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Cardiac MRI confirmed infarction, indicating no further intervention was needed, with the patient recovering well.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Interventional Cardiology
- Cardiac Imaging
Background:
- ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) requires prompt reperfusion therapy.
- Thrombolytic therapy failure necessitates rescue angioplasty.
- Extensive thrombus burden can complicate percutaneous coronary intervention.
Observation:
- A young male presented with STEMI 22 hours after symptom onset.
- Rescue angioplasty revealed extensive thrombus in the left anterior descending artery.
- Symptoms resolved, and thrombectomy was deferred due to risks.
Findings:
- Cardiac MRI with delayed gadolinium hyper-enhancement confirmed full-thickness infarction in the LAD territory.
- No further intervention was indicated based on imaging findings.
- The patient remained asymptomatic with minimal heart failure symptoms at one-year follow-up.
Implications:
- Cardiac MRI is crucial for assessing myocardial viability and guiding intervention in complex STEMI cases.
- Conservative management guided by imaging can be effective despite significant thrombus burden.
- Successful management of STEMI with extensive thrombus can lead to favorable long-term outcomes.
Abstract:
A young male presented 22 h following onset of symptoms with an anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction. He was transferred for rescue angioplasty after failing to reperfuse with thrombolytic therapy. On arrival, his symptoms had settled. Following administration of intracoronary abciximab and passage of an angioplasty wire into the distal LAD, extensive thrombus was demonstrated in the left anterior descending artery extending from the ostium to the distal vessel Figure 1(a). Further intervention with attempted thrombectomy was considered but it was postponed pending a viability study because of the risks of displacing thrombus down the circumflex. A cardiac MRI scan with delayed gadolinium hyper-enhancement demonstrated the classical appearance of full-thickness infarction in the LAD territory Figure 1(b). No further intervention was therefore indicated. At one-year follow-up, the patient remains free of angina with NYHA Class 1 symptoms of heart failure.
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