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Echocardiography
An echocardiogram is a recording
of the position and motion of the heart walls, valves, internal
structures, and neighboring tissues by the echo obtained from
beams of ultrasonic waves directed through the chest wall.
Transthoracic
and transeosophageal echocardiography are important
ancillary tests to screen for cardiogenic causes of cerebral
embolism [Adams HP, et al, 1994]. Because the
esophagus lies just behind and contiguous with the left
atrium, transeosophageal echocardiography is superior to
transthoracic echocardiography in detecting abnormalities in
the left atrium, left atrial appendage, on the mitral and
aortic valves, and a right-to-left intracardiac shunt [Bruno
A, 1993].
This transeosophageal echocardiographic
sequence demonstrates a left atrial myxoma. Myxomas
are mobile, gelatinous tumors that are usually benign, and
most often attached by a stalk to the left side of the atrial
septum in the fossa ovalis region. Myxomas may occlude
the mitral orifice, and/or the tricuspid orifice when the
tumor is either bilateral or on the right side of the septum.
Parts of the friable tumor may embolize with devastating consequences.
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Stroke Education
