title: Free floating left atrial ball thrombus: a rare cause of stroke.
abstract: In the setting of mitral valve stenosis and atrial fibrillation, left atrial ball thrombus is a rare but recognized cause of stroke and can occur even in the presence of therapeutic anticoagulation. This case report highlights the need for echocardiography to rule out treatable cardioembolic substrates for stroke. We report a case of cardioembolic stroke as a result of free floating left atrial ball thrombus presenting as a complication of rheumatic mitral valve disease. This case highlights that, in all patients with a history of structural heart disease, atrial fibrillation, or rheumatic fever, prompt cardiac ultrasound to exclude free floating atrial thrombus is essential.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, United Kingdom. Electronic address: oliver.rider@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Oliver J
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Rider
authors.forename: Aneil
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Malhotra
authors.forename: James D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Newton
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004452:Echocardiography; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D020521:Stroke / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging