Project description:Aortic mural thrombi of the ascending aorta are rare. If an aortic mural thrombus is dislodged, it can cause various embolic complications, which can sometimes be fatal. Although contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) and transesophageal echography are useful for diagnosing aortic mural thrombi, four-dimensional CT (4D-CT) is one of the most useful modalities for both diagnosis and treatment selection in such cases. 4D-CT can be used to evaluate the morphology and mobility of thrombi. Furthermore, it is minimally invasive. To the best of our knowledge, there have not been any reports about 4D-CT being used to depict an asymptomatic ascending aortic thrombus. We report a very unusual case, involving an aortic mural thrombus of the ascending aorta.
Project description:Background: A floating thrombus in an ascending aorta with normal morphology is very rare, but when it does occur, it may induce a systemic embolism or fatal stroke. The pathophysiological mechanisms of aortic mural thrombi remain unclear, and there is no consensus regarding therapeutic recommendations.Case presentation: We report a 49-year-old male who presented with chest discomfort for 5 days and was admitted to our emergency unit. A contrast-enhanced computed tomography angiography (CTA) surprisingly demonstrated a large filling defect suggestive of a thrombus in his otherwise healthy distal ascending aorta. Surgical resection of the mass and attachment site was performed. Histological examination confirmed that the mass was a thrombus, but the cause of the thrombus formation was unknown.Conclusions: floating aortic thrombi are rare, and they are prone to break off, thus carrying a potential risk for embolic events with catastrophic consequences. Surgical resection, both of the aortic thrombus and attachment site, as well as postoperative anticoagulant administration, are standard treatments.
Project description:BackgroundLeft main coronary artery (LMCA)-acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a rare complication of a floating thrombus in the ascending aorta. However, diagnosing the aetiology of LMCA-ACS during an emergency situation is challenging. We present a rare case of LMCA-ACS caused by a large thrombus in the ascending aorta, confirmed by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).Case summaryA 90-year-old woman presented to the emergency department complaining of chest pain and syncope. On admission, her electrocardiogram showed normal sinus rhythm and a complete right bundle branch block with significant ST depression in the V3-V6 leads; hence, ACS was suspected. The first emergency angiogram of the left coronary artery showed filling defect in the proximal ascending aorta. IVUS revealed a large thrombus in the ascending aorta. The thrombus extended from the ascending aorta to the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery. IVUS confirmed that there was no dissection of the coronary artery or the proximal ascending aorta. Based on the IVUS findings, this case was diagnosed as ACS of the LMCA caused by a floating thrombus in the ascending aorta.DiscussionThis rare case of LMCA-ACS caused by a thrombus in the ascending aorta was confirmed by IVUS, which can be a useful imaging tool for diagnosing morphological abnormalities during emergencies.
Project description:BackgroundAscending aortic thrombus has been reported in several case reports, often revealed by peripheral embolization, but very few revealed by cardiocerebral infarction. Moreover, there is no defined treatment strategy.Case summaryAn 83-year-old woman was admitted to our intensive care unit for concurrent acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and acute stroke, both with the presence of an embolism. Imaging revealed a floating thrombus in the ascending aorta. The thrombus resolved after anticoagulant therapy was administered, and there was no subsequent embolism recurrence.DiscussionFloating thrombus in the ascending aorta is an unusual cause of AMI. The main mechanisms of thrombus formation include erosion of an atherosclerotic plaque, but it can also form without tissue abnormality with the probable implication of Virchow's triad. However, the precise mechanism for thrombogenesis remains unknown. In patients with a low surgical risk, we should consider surgical treatment, especially as anticoagulant therapy does not appear to reduce the risk of arterial embolization. Thrombolysis and endovascular interventions have also proven effective in certain cases. Overall, in patients with high surgical risk, decision will have to be made on a case-by-case basis.KeywordsAcute myocardial infarction • Embolic stroke • Coronary embolism • Ascending aorta thrombus • Floating thrombus • Case report.
Project description:A 57-year-old man, with type 2 diabetes mellitus, was admitted with a hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state, who developed in-hospital venous thromboembolism with huge free-floating right heart thrombus, and there is no available optimal treatment option for the huge free-floating right heart thrombus, except anticoagulation with warfarin and low molecular weight heparin with successful outcome.
Project description:Myxomas are located in the left atrium in 75-80% of cases and almost always present with signs and symptoms of a thromboembolic event. Biatrial myxomas are rare, and their incidence is generally less than 2.5% of all myxomas. We herein present a case of biatrial myxomas as an incidental finding by echocardiography where the patient underwent surgery. Echocardiography continues to be the initial imaging modality for intracardiac masses. Cardiac magnetic resonance provides superior tissue characterization, particularly important in differentiating a myxoma from a thrombus. Appropriate use of these non-invasive imaging modalities may lead to a correct diagnosis and good outcome. <Learning objective: In this report we present a rare case of cardiac biatrial myxomas. Multimodality imaging, especially delayed enhancement cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, provided specific findings for the diagnosis.>.
Project description:BackgroundAortic thrombosis represents a consequence of atherosclerotic disease. In few cases, it can be secondary to large vessel or infective vasculitis. More rarely, aortic thrombosis is the manifestation of a primary malignant neoplasm of the aortic wall. Aortic angiosarcoma is a rare tumour, its clinical presentation is often non-specific and associated signs and symptoms may vary greatly. An early diagnosis is difficult to reach and the presence of metastatic disease is not uncommon at the time of diagnosis. The prognosis is poor overall.Case summaryWe report the case of a female patient who presented to her GP because of fatigue, hyporexia, weight-loss, and anaemia. An ultrasound of the abdomen showed two small pancreatic lesions, confirmed and described as benign cystic pancreatic lesions on computed tomography (CT) imaging; an incidental thrombus in the superior mesenteric artery was also found on CT imaging. The thoracic CT identified a large thrombotic lesion in the descending thoracic aorta with significant narrowing of the aortic lumen and confirmed the presence of an osteolytic bone lesion on the VIII right rib, in the absence of atherosclerotic disease. Signs of increased metabolic activity in the aortic lumen and in the VIII posterior right rib were shown at a subsequent positron emission tomography. A CT-guided biopsy of the bone lesion was performed and at histology the diagnosis of metastatic angiosarcoma of the aortic wall was made.DiscussionAortic angiosarcoma is a rare cause of aortic thrombosis, to be taken into consideration in a patient with thrombotic lesions of the aorta in the absence of atherosclerotic disease. The differential diagnosis is difficult because of clinical presentation and radiological features similar to those of inflammatory aortic disease. In our case, the final diagnosis of angiosarcoma was made only by a biopsy of a bone metastatic lesion.
Project description:Left ventricular clefts (LVCs) are defined as deep, tight blood-filled invaginations within the ventricular myocardium localized predominantly in the basal posterior septum and LV-free wall. Usually, they are asymptomatic and incidentally discovered during diagnostic imaging procedures. LVC has been reported both in healthy volunteers and in patients affected with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Clinicians should be able to recognize LVC and to distinguish this entity from other myocardial wall defects with different pathological profile and clinical significance. We describe a case of multimodality imaging of multiple septal myocardial clefts in an asymptomatic teenager.