IDENTIFICATION OF RIGHT ATRIAL THROMBI USING TRANSESOPHAGEAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY

The in vivo diagnosis of right atrial thrombus is difficult by transth oracic echocardiography and it is likely that small thrombi are underd iagnosed using this approach. Transoesophageal echocardiography provid es an unobstructed view of cardiac structures and the great vessels. I n this report we describe the findings in five patients with right atr ial thrombi that illustrate the potential usefulness of transoesophage al echocardiography for both the initial diagnosis and the subsequent management of these patients.