FREE-FLOATING BALL THROMBUS IN LEFT ATRIUM

Left atrial (LA) ball thrombus is a rare disorder. These ball thrombi are generally associated with mitral stenosis, and the restricted mitr al orifice encloses the free-floating thrombus in the LA. There is a p otential for fatal systemic emboli or mitral valve orifice occlusion t hat may result in sudden. death. We report the case of a patient with tight rheumatic mitral stenosis in whom a ball thrombus was observed t o bounce and rebound off the walls of LA on echocardiography. After th e patient received anticoagulant therapy for 1 month, the thrombus was not found at surgery.