A thrombus of the right upper pulmonary vein: detection by the use of a 64-MDCT. (14th September 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Takeuchi, Hidekazu
• Is Part Of: BMJ case reports. Volume 2012
• Publication Date: 2012-09-14
• Subjects: Medicine -- Case studies -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1136/bcr.12.2011.5446
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1757-790X

Abstract

Abstract : Stroke is an important disease, because it is usually devastating and often fatal. Left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombi are well known as a cause for cerebral infarction, but pulmonary vein thrombi remain unknown. To detect LAA thrombi, transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) is usually used. More recently, a 64-slice multidetector CT (64-MDCT) has proved to be an option for identifying them. The patient was 77-year-old male, and had a lacuna infarction in pons. A 64-MDCT demonstrated a 3 to 4 mm thrombus at the proximal side of right upper pulmonary vein. After 2 months warfarin therapy, the thrombus disappeared. When assessing the possible cause for cerebral infarction, it is important to identify thrombi within the LAA, and in the left pulmonary vein. 64-MDCT seems to be more suitable and reliable than TOE to detect thrombi of the pulmonary vein, because of no influence of pulmonary air.