DETECTION OF AORTIC PLAQUES BY TRANSESOPHAGEAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY IN PATIENTS WITH ISCHEMIC STROKE

Twenty-eight consecutive patients, aged 34-78 years with non-cardiogen ic ischemic stroke were evaluated by transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). All patients were in sinus rhythm. Six of 28 patients (21.4%) d isplayed protruding masses in the aortic lumen. Five of these masses w ere located in the ascending aorta and one in the thoracic aorta. Our study suggests that cerebral infarction may also be due to aortic athe rosclerotic plaques. Although our findings do not necessarily provide a causative link between atherosclerotic lesions in the aortic lumen a nd cerebral infarction, they may be an alternative potential source of stroke. TEE is the method of choice in detecting such lesions at the present time.