AIMS: This study aimed to assess the use of transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography in diagnosing the thrombi located in the left atrium and/or left @entity955 in @entity1 with @entity627 , and to investigate the characteristics of thrombi in comparison to intraoperative findings. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study group was comprised of 474 @entity1 who underwent transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiography prior to mitral valve surgery. Location, thickness and morphological characteristics of thrombi were determined by transoesophageal echocardiography. Intraoperative assessment disclosed left atrial thrombi in 105 @entity1 . Thickness of thrombi < or = 1cm, and thrombi confined to left @entity955 were associated with false-negative results by transthoracic echocardiography. However, diameter and morphological characteristics of thrombi, left atrial and left @entity955 size, and the presence of the spontaneous echo contrast were not associated with the diagnosis of thrombi by transthoracic echocardiography. For overall left atrial thrombi, sensitivity and specificity of transthoracic echocardiography were 32%, and 94%, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of transoesophageal echocardiography for thrombi in the left @entity955 were 98%, and 98%, for thrombi in the main left atrial cavity were 81%, and 99%, and for thrombi located in both left atrium and appendage cavities were 100%, and 100%, respectively. CONCLUSION: In @entity1 with @entity627 , detection of left atrial thrombi by transthoracic echocardiography seems to be determined by thickness and location of thrombi. The multilobed structure of the left @entity955 and artifacts over posterior wall of the left atrium may still prevent precise diagnosis even with transoesophageal echocardiography.

Location, size and morphological characteristics of left atrial thrombi as assessed by echocardiography in XXXX with @entity627 .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity627 :: ('MESH:D012216', 'Disease') :: ['rheumatic mitral valve disease'] @entity955 :: ('MESH:D001281', 'Disease') :: ['atrial appendage']
@entity1 :: (9606,Species) :: ['patients']
