title: Usefulness of electron beam tomography in the prone position for detecting atrial thrombi in chronic atrial fibrillation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We compared the usefulness of electron beam tomography (EBT) in the prone position relative to that in the supine position for detecting atrial thrombi.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 96 patients with chronic atrial fibrillation, of whom 71 were scanned in the supine position and 25 were scanned in the prone position. Electron beam tomography was performed twice after contrast medium injection to obtain early- and late-phase images.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Filling defects were detected in 13 patients in the supine position by EBT. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) revealed a thrombus in the region of the filling defect in 9 patients. In 4 patients, filling defects in the left atrial appendage were not confirmed as thrombi by TEE. Filling defects were detected in 4 patients in the prone position, all of which were confirmed as thrombi by TEE.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Electron beam tomography in the prone position is an effective technique for reducing false-positive results in the detection of atrial thrombi.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Aichi Prefectural Owari Hospital Cardiovascular Center, Ichinomiya-shi, Japan. QZB06131@nifty.ne.jp
authors.forename: Tomomitsu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tani
authors.forename: Shoji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamakami
authors.forename: Toyoaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsushita
authors.forename: Mitsuhiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: Junji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Toyama
authors.forename: Shogo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fukutomi
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Itoh
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003287:Contrast Media; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007479:Iopamidol; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016684:Prone Position; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D007479:Iopamidol