IDENTIFICATION OF LARGE LEFT ATRIAL THROMBUS BY CROSS-SECTIONAL AND M-MODE ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY.
In addition to a typical pattern indicative of mitral stenosis, the M-mode echo-cardiogram of a patient with mitral valve disease revealed a broad band of dense echoes within an enlarged left atrial cavity that was suggestive of an intraatrial thrombus. Subsequent cross-sectional echocardiography demonstrated a globular cluster of echoes inside the left atrial cavity, thus corroborating our interpretation of the M-mode recording. When open mitral commissurotomy was performed, a large, partially calcified thrombus was found protruding from the posterior wall and left atrial appendage into the atrial cavity. Postoperative M-mode and cross-sectional echocardiography did not show the previously noted abnormal echoes within the left atrium.
Busch
Ulrich
U
St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital-Clayton Foundation for Research Laboratory and the Texas Heart Institute, Houston, Texas.
Pechacek
Leonard W.
LW
Garcia
Efrain
E
Sandiford
Frank M.
FM
Hall
Robert J.
RJ