title: Floating thrombus in the ascending aorta: a rare cause of peripheral emboli.
abstract: The ascending aorta may be the site of origin of systemic embolization in some cases that do not have an identifiable source. We report a case in which a free-floating thrombus in the noncoronary sinus of Valsalva was detected by transesophageal echocardiography as a source of left axillary artery embolism. After removal of this pedunculated thrombus of unknown cause, which was attached on a macroscopically and histologically normal aortic wall, the patient made an uneventful recovery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Cantonal Hospital of Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kalangos
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baldovinos
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vuille
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montessuit
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Faidutti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001366:Axillary Artery; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D004617:Embolism / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging