title: [A retinal embolism subsequent to atheroma in aortic arch].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We studied a patient whose embolic retinal occlusion originated in a free floating thrombus detached from an atheromatous plaque sited in the aortic arch.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Atheroma in the ascending aorta artery and its arch can be a potential source of emboli in patients suffering of retinal embolism. Atherosclerotic lesions in thoracic aorta may be shedding free floating detachments on to the lumen of the artery with severe risk of peripheral embolism. These lesions can be detected by trans-esophageal echocardiography in thoracic areas of the aorta and may become an option when thrombus sources in cardiac ot carotid artery are not clearly identified.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Oftalmología, Hospital San Agustín, Avilés (Asturias), España. jjbarbon@telecable.es
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Barbón García
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rodríguez Blanco
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Alvarez Suárez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fernández Lombardía
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Díez-Lage Sánchez
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D004617:Embolism / Q000209:etiology*; D017700:Embolism, Cholesterol / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000209:etiology*