A large cardiogenic thrombus lodged at the carotid bifurcation mimicking severe carotid stenosis

Abstract

A 62-year-old woman without vascular risk factors presented with left-sided weakness and numbness. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain depicted acute right hemispheric infarcts in the cortical and subcortical white matter. Initial MR angiography (MRA) showed large thrombus at the right carotid bifurcation. Valvular atrial fibrillation (vAF) with severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR) was found on two-dimensional echocardiography. Serial follow-up computed tomography angiography (CTA) or MRA at 3, 9, and 15 days after anticoagulation alone showed complete resolution of the thrombus with no neurological deterioration. Our case suggests that prompt institution of anticoagulantion alone may result in radiologic resolution of the thrombus with improvement in patient's clinical status.