Echocardiographic mimicker of thrombus on a mechanical aortic valve prosthesis due to cavitation: A paradoxical phenomenon of pressure recovery

Echocardiography. 2019 Jul;36(7):1397-1400. doi: 10.1111/echo.14403. Epub 2019 Jun 17.

Abstract

We describe a case of a mass-like echocardiographic density on a mechanical prosthetic aortic valve. We initially suspected a thrombus vs vegetation on transthoracic echocardiography, but after transesophageal echocardiography, the density was subsequently determined to be cavitation by reviewing the initial images in slow motion.

Keywords: aortic valve prosthesis; cavitation; mass; microbubbles; thrombus; vegetations.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aortic Valve / diagnostic imaging*
  • Coronary Thrombosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Echocardiography / methods*
  • Heart Valve Prosthesis*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Microbubbles*
  • Middle Aged
  • Stress, Mechanical