A Ping Pong Thrombus in the Left Atrium

Abstract

In this illustrative case, a transesophageal echocardiographic examination in a 69-year-old woman revealed normally functioning mechanical mitral prosthesis and a 4 cm left atrial heterogenous thrombus moving around her left atrium like a ping pong ball. Also visible was a thrombus within the left atrial appendage; the left atrial thrombus moved toward the mitral orifice and was bounced away by the mitral regurgitant jet.

Keywords: left atrial thrombus; transesophageal echocardiography.