Thrombi migration to atrium diagnosed by transesophageal echocardiography

Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann. 2013 Aug;21(4):467-9. doi: 10.1177/0218492312457923. Epub 2013 Jul 1.

Abstract

Two days before surgery in a 70-year-old man with renal cell carcinoma, transthoracic echocardiography showed a dense mass in the inferior vena cava, lying proximally, but no mass was observed in the right atrium. Intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography revealed unexpected tumor thrombi in the right atrium, and the surgical plan was changed. This case highlights the importance of intraoperative transesophageal echocardiography in patients with renal cell carcinoma.

Keywords: Renal cell carcinoma; inferior vena cava; thrombectomy; transesophageal echocardiography; venous thrombosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Video-Audio Media

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / diagnostic imaging*
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Renal Cell / surgery
  • Cardiopulmonary Bypass
  • Echocardiography, Doppler, Color
  • Echocardiography, Transesophageal*
  • Heart Atria / diagnostic imaging
  • Heart Atria / pathology
  • Humans
  • Intraoperative Care
  • Kidney Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Kidney Neoplasms / pathology
  • Kidney Neoplasms / surgery
  • Male
  • Neoplastic Cells, Circulating* / pathology
  • Nephrectomy
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Thrombectomy
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vena Cava, Inferior / diagnostic imaging*
  • Vena Cava, Inferior / pathology
  • Vena Cava, Inferior / surgery
  • Venous Thrombosis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Venous Thrombosis / pathology
  • Venous Thrombosis / surgery