Identifying left ventricular thrombi.
A number of imaging techniques are available for the identification of left ventricular thrombi. Echocardiography is the technique of choice because of its wide availability, noninvasiveness, and relative low cost. The accuracy of information from echocardiography depends on the skill of the technician and quality of equipment. Platelet scintigraphy, which reflects activity on the thrombus surface, plays a complementary role to echocardiography in detecting thrombi. Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography are potentially useful. Contrast ventriculography lacks sensitivity and specificity, and radio nuclide angiography lacks sensitivity in the diagnosis of left ventricular thrombi.
Ezekowitz
M D
MD
Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510.
D001792:Blood Platelets; D004452:Echocardiography; D015637:Gated Blood-Pool Imaging; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011859:Radiography; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis*