title: [Thromboses of the right atrium: echocardiographic aspects, practical management. Apropos of 8 cases].
abstract: Right atrial (RA) thrombosis is rare. The aim of this study was to determine their clinical and echocardiographic features and therapeutic implications. In the last 7 years, 16 RA masses were detected by 2D echocardiography. The diagnosis of thrombosis was made in 8 cases based on anatomo-pathological examination (6 cases) or their disappearance with medical treatment (2 cases). The clinical presentations were: pulmonary embolism (4 cases), anterior myocardial infarction (2 cases), Ebstein's anomaly (1 case), thrombosis of a Leveen catheter (1 case). Only 1 patient had atrial fibrillation. Two echocardiographic appearances were observed: 1) a long, very mobile thrombus floating between the RA and right ventricle (4 cases), 2) a relatively immobile mass (4 cases). The 4 patients with relatively immobile thrombi survived: 2 underwent surgery and 2 were treated medically. All cases of floating thrombi had pulmonary embolism: 2 patients underwent surgery but the postoperative course was complicated; 2 patients died suddenly before surgery. These cases show that 2D echo is the diagnostic method of choice for detection of RA thrombosis. The floating RA thrombus is a therapeutic emergency and has a poor prognosis.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000792:Angiography; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004452:Echocardiography; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D013997:Time Factors
vernacular_title: Thromboses de l'oreillette droite: aspects échocardiographiques, conduite pratique. A propos de 8 cas.