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Left atrial vascularised thrombus diagnosed by transoesophageal cross sectional echocardiography
M A Taams1, E J Gussenhoven, C T Lancée
1Thoraxcenter, Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Insights
A large vascularized mass in the left atrial appendage was detected using transesophageal echocardiography in a patient with a Björk-Shiley mitral valve prosthesis. This imaging technique provided detailed visualization of the lesion, unlike precordial echocardiography.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Medical Imaging
- Echocardiography
Background:
- The case involves a patient with a Björk-Shiley mitral valve prosthesis, a mechanical heart valve replacement.
- Left atrial appendage masses can be challenging to diagnose and characterize.
Observation:
- Transesophageal cross-sectional echocardiography revealed a large, vascularized mass within the left atrial appendage.
- The echocardiography also showed smoke-like opacification of blood flow in the left atrium, suggesting abnormal flow patterns.
Findings:
- The transesophageal approach provided superior imaging detail of the left atrial appendage mass compared to precordial echocardiography.
- The vascular nature of the mass was a key finding.
Implications:
- Transesophageal echocardiography is crucial for detailed assessment of left atrial appendage pathology, especially in patients with prosthetic valves.
- Accurate characterization of such masses is essential for guiding clinical management and treatment decisions.
Abstract:
This report describes a patient with a Björk-Shiley mitral valve prosthesis in whom transoesophageal cross sectional echocardiography revealed a large vascularised mass within the left atrial appendage with smoke-like opacification of blood flow in the left atrium. Transoesophageal cross sectional echocardiography gave a detailed image of the lesion which was unobtainable with precordial cross sectional echocardiography.