Retinal hemorrhages from septic emboli in a patient with a ventricular false chorda

To demonstrate ophthalmic findings of bacterial endocarditis in a patient with a cardiac structural anomaly and to illustrate the potential usefulness of transesophageal echocardiography in the examination of such patients.

We examined a patient with bacteremia who had white-centered retinal hemorrhages. Complete clinical, laboratory, and echocardiographic evaluations were performed.

Streptococcal bacteremia was proven and, by using transesophageal echocardiography, a ventricular false chorda was demonstrated.

Patients with white-centered retinal hemorrhages should undergo thorough systemic examinations. In this unusual case of such hemorrhages caused by bacteremia in a patient with a ventricular false chorda, modern, high-resolution transesophageal echocardiography played an important role in confirming the diagnosis.