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Updated: May 23, 2026

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance for the Evaluation of Suspected Cardiac Thrombus: Conventional and Emerging Techniques
Published on: June 11, 2019
Thrombus at ostium of coronary sinus discovered during evaluation for cardiac resynchronization therapy
Tolga Sinan Güvenç1, Gültekin Karakuş, Yavuz Karabağ
1Department of Cardiology, Kafkas University School of Medicine, Kars, Turkey. TSGuvenc@gmail.com
Insights
A cardiac mass near the coronary sinus ostium in a dilated cardiomyopathy patient resolved with anticoagulation. This highlights the importance of coronary sinus imaging during cardiac resynchronization therapy evaluations.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) often requires advanced therapies like cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).
- Echocardiography is crucial for evaluating cardiac function and guiding CRT candidacy.
Observation:
- A transthoracic echocardiogram in a patient with DCM revealed an unexpected mass near the coronary sinus ostium.
- The mass's proximity to the coronary sinus ostium raised diagnostic questions.
Findings:
- The observed mass was diagnosed as a thrombus based on its resolution after anticoagulation therapy.
- A repeat echocardiogram confirmed the complete disappearance of the thrombus following warfarin treatment.
Implications:
- Coronary sinus imaging is vital during echocardiographic assessments, particularly for patients undergoing evaluation for cardiac resynchronization therapy.
- Early identification and management of coronary sinus thrombi can prevent complications and optimize treatment strategies.
Abstract:
A 50-year-old male patient with dilated cardiomyopathy was evaluated for cardiac resynchronization therapy. A transthoracic echocardiogram revealed a mass in close proximity to the coronary sinus ostium.The mass was considered to be a thrombus and found to have disappeared at the repeat echocardiogram performed following a month of anticoagulation therapy with warfarin. In this case report, we aim to emphasize the importance of coronary sinus imaging, especially during echocardiographic evaluation for cardiac asynchrony.
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