title: Left atrium mass in a patient with breast cancer: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Left atrial thrombi have traditionally been treated with heparin and warfarin, and many physicians have limited experience with direct oral anticoagulants such as apixaban. Furthermore, the efficacy of apixaban for the treatment of left atrial thrombi has not been established. We experienced a case of left atrial thrombus formation before breast cancer surgery, which was resolved by apixaban.
  
  
  METHODS
  Computed tomography for a 74-year-old Japanese woman with breast cancer incidentally revealed a left atrial mass with a root before the breast surgery. The mass was surgically removed and determined to be a thrombus. Before the breast surgery, transthoracic echocardiography was performed again, and the left atrial thrombus had recurred within only 14 days. It resolved after administration of apixaban.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A left atrial thrombus might recur within a very short time. Apixaban might be an alternative to warfarin in patients with breast cancer and left atrial thrombus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Yamatotakada Municipal Hospital, 1-1, Isono-Cho, Yamatotakada-Shi, Nara-Ken, Japan. waegurorunsra@hotmail.co.jp.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sugawara
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Yamatotakada Municipal Hospital, 1-1, Isono-Cho, Yamatotakada-Shi, Nara-Ken, Japan.
authors.forename: Ryuji
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Okamura
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Nara Medical University, 840, Shijo-Cho, Kashihara-Shi, Nara-Ken, Japan.
authors.forename: Shigeki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D007564:Japan; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011728:Pyridones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D011720:Pyrazoles; D011728:Pyridones; C522181:apixaban
keywords: Apixaban; Left atrial mass; Thrombus