J Korean Soc Echocardiogr.  2000 Dec;8(2):236-240.

Cerebral Infarction Caused by Floating Thoracic aortic Thrombus in Young Male

• Song JH
• Park GD
• Cho KH
• Kim DI
• Kim DS

Abstract

A case of embolic episode resulting in cerebral infarction from an unknown source is reported. This occured in a young male. He had no cardiovascular risk factors. Diagnostic evaluation for identifying the source of embolism revealed a large, pedunculated and mobile thrombus arising from a nonaneurysmatic and nonatheroslerotic descending aorta. The thrombus was identified by transesophageal echocardiography, and was successfully removed by aortic thromboendarterectomy. We emphasize the importnace of transesophageal echocardiography as a reliable method for the diagnosis of thoracic aorta diseases and for identification of aortic thrombi. An aggressive surgical approach is recommended in the low-risk parient to prevent further embolic episodes.

Keyword

Cerebral infarction; Aortic thrombus; Systemic embolization

MeSH Terms

Aorta, Thoracic
Cerebral Infarction*
Diagnosis
Echocardiography, Transesophageal
Embolism
Endarterectomy
Humans
Male*
Risk Factors
Thrombosis*