title: Delineation of an octopus-like thrombus attached to the eustachian valve.
abstract: Eustachian valve (EV) is a vestige of the valve of the inferior vena cava which directs the umbilical vein blood through open foramen ovale in fetal life. Following birth it gradually regresses, but it may persist in variable size, shape, and thickness as a functionless and benign structure. However, there are reports suggesting that persistent EV may not be completely innocent. It has been accused of being a predisposing cause of patent foramen ovale and paradoxical embolism and also interfering with transseptal interventional procedures. It may serve as a site of infective vegetations and be mistaken as a tumor or thrombus. In the present case, an octopus-like thrombus attached to the EV was delineated with the utility of two-dimensional and real time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography. EV was considered to play an essential role in preventing potential pulmonary embolism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Kartal Kosuyolu Heart and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Macit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kalcik
authors.forename: Cüneyt
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Toprak
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ozan Gursoy
authors.forename: Mahmut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yesin
authors.forename: Lutfi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ocal
authors.forename: Hayati
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Eren
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Özkan
mesh_terms: D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006325:Heart Atria; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000517:prevention & control; D035583:Rare Diseases; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015607:Stents; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants
keywords: atrial mass; echocardiography; eustachian valve (EV); three-dimesional transesophageal echocardiography; thrombus