Acute coronary thromboembolization in unstable angina without subsequent myocardial infarction

A 58 year old man underwent coronary arteriography for unstable angina. During the catheterization, distal embolization of a nonoccluding intracoronary thrombus formed at the site of a subtotal atherosclerotic occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery and was documented angiographically. This event, which appears unique, was not associated with subsequent myocardial infarction or any apparent morbidity.