Giant organized thrombus in the left sinus of valsalva causing intermittent left coronary obstruction: an unusual case of acute myocardial infarction

Circ J. 2004 Aug;68(8):795-8. doi: 10.1253/circj.68.795.

Abstract

A 48-year-old Japanese man was admitted to hospital for acute myocardial infarction associated with a giant organized thrombus occupying the left sinus of Valsalva. Cardiac catheterization revealed no organic stenosis in either coronary artery, but left ventriculography and aortography showed a filling defect above the left coronary cusp. Transesophageal echocardiography was immediately performed and showed a round mass filling the left sinus of Valsalva. A solid, round mass approximately 2.5 cm in diameter was removed during emergency surgery and determined to be a thrombus on the basis of microscopic findings. This is the second report of a giant organized thrombus occupying the entire left sinus of Valsalva, obstructing the ostium of the left coronary artery intermittently, and leading to acute myocardial infarction.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Coronary Angiography
  • Coronary Thrombosis / diagnosis*
  • Coronary Thrombosis / pathology
  • Coronary Thrombosis / surgery
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocardial Infarction / diagnosis*
  • Myocardial Infarction / pathology
  • Myocardial Infarction / surgery
  • Sinus of Valsalva / diagnostic imaging*