title: Unmasking a patent foramen ovale during recurrent paradoxical cerebral embolism.
abstract: A patient with an acute ischemic stroke had an interatrial septal aneurysm shown by transesophageal echocardiography. Interatrial shunting, compatible with a patent foramen ovale, was observed on a follow-up study after a second stroke. This was seen in association with a right atrial thrombus. This case illustrates that an interatrial septal aneurysm serves as a marker for potential interatrial shunting, which can lead to paradoxical cerebral embolism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of Miami School of Medicine, Fla.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Reyes-Iglesias
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Kelley
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Bilsker
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Nedd
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Bauerlein
mesh_terms: D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000209:etiology; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D002542:Intracranial Embolism and Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence