title: Left atrial ball thrombus: echocardiographic features and clinical implications.
abstract: The echocardiographic features of left atrial ball thrombus associated with mitral stenosis are reviewed, and some previously unpublished cross-sectional echocardiographic findings presented. In one patient who had a large free-floating ball thrombus there was variation in its echocardiographic appearance; the thrombus was removed uneventfully at surgery. In another patient who had a pedunculated but immobile ball thrombus, a stalk was identified which attached it to the inter-atrial septum; this patient died suddenly before surgery could be performed, due to detachment of the thrombus and obstruction of the mitral valve orifice. Cross-sectional echocardiography is clearly superior to M-mode imaging in the detection of atrial thrombi, and variable appearances may help differentiation of thrombus from myxoma. Whether or not a ball thrombus appears mobile, emergency thrombectomy and mitral valve replacement is indicated, because of the risk of obstruction of the mitral valve.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University Hospital of Wales, Health Park, Cardiff, U.K.
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Fraser
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Angelini
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ikram
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Butchart
mesh_terms: D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008946:Mitral Valve Stenosis / Q000150:complications*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology