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Updated: Aug 15, 2025

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance for the Evaluation of Suspected Cardiac Thrombus: Conventional and Emerging Techniques
Published on: June 11, 2019
Left atrial mass found on cardiac ultrasound leading to emergent thrombectomy
Nathalie van der Rijst1, Tejas Sinha1, Parth Rali1
1Temple University Hospital, Department of Thoracic Medicine and Surgery, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Abstract:
Atrial myxomas, though the most common primary cardiac neoplasm, remain a rare disease occurring in about 0.03% of the population. While clinically benign, they are considered functionally malignant as they can cause life-threatening embolic events. Here we present a patient with a high-risk intermediate pulmonary embolism where bedside ultrasound revealed significant right ventricular dysfunction with an associated large left atrial mass. These findings combined with the patient's instability allowed her to be rushed to surgery for definitive treatment.
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