Demonstration of Left Ventricular Thrombi with Real-time 3-Dimensional Echocardiography in a Patient with Cardiomyopathy

Abstract

Two-dimensional echocardiography is a conventional tool to evaluate left ventricular thrombus but the use of real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography is not widespread. We report a 35-year-old man with unsuspected cardiomyopathy and a long history of both amphetamine and alcohol abuse. He presented with abdominal pain and right lower leg numbness and pain. Computed tomography revealed infarctions of the spleen and both kidneys, along with occlusion of the right femoral artery. Echocardiography demonstrated left ventricular systolic dysfunction and multiple large thrombi in the left ventricle. The thrombi had a specific dynamic pattern on real-time 3-dimensional echocardiography. The patient underwent surgical embolectomy of the right femoral artery and was anticoagulated. Two months later, the cardiac thrombi had totally disappeared.