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An Unusual Cause of Stroke—the Importance of Saline Contrast Echocardiography
Author(s) -
Tsang Wendy,
Boulos Mark,
Moody Alan R.,
Sahlas Demetrios J.,
Morgan Christopher D.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
echocardiography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.404
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1540-8175
pISSN - 0742-2822
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-8175.2008.00706.x
Subject(s) - medicine , cardiology , shunt (medical) , right to left shunt , stroke (engine) , radiology , cerebral infarction , magnetic resonance imaging , left atrium , angiography , abnormality , infarction , magnetic resonance angiography , patent foramen ovale , myocardial infarction , atrial fibrillation , ischemia , mechanical engineering , psychiatry , migraine , engineering
We report a case of a 38‐year‐old man who presented with a cryptogenic stroke in whom a persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) to the left atrium was established as an isolated anomaly by both echocardiography and magnetic resonance angiography. This rare cardiac abnormality creates a systemic right to left shunt and the potential for cerebral abscess or infarction. Echocardiographic diagnosis may be missed unless intravenous saline contrast is performed using a left upper extremity vein.