Patent foramen ovale diagnosed by real-time three-dimensional contrast transesophageal echocardiography: A case report

摘要

A 67-year-old man was admitted due to insensitiveness of right upper limb and dysarthria, and treated for suspected lacunar infarction or branch atherosclerotic disease. Carotid ultrasonography showed no abnormalities, and agitated contrast transesophageal echocardiography was performed to detect patent foramen ovale (PFO). Intravenously administered microbubbles did not appear in left atrium by 2-dimensional echocardiography, while contrasts were observed in left atrium using 3-dimensional echocardiography. Real-time 3-dimensional contrast transesophageal echocardiography may be the most useful method for the diagnosis of small PFO.<>Learning objective: The presence of patent foramen ovale has been suggested as a potential cause of paradoxical embolism and, in particular, of cerebral emboli in stroke of unknown origin. Transthoracic or transesophageal contrast echocardiography is the method for the detection of the patent foramen ovale, however, real-time 3-dimensional contrast transesophageal echocardiography has an advantage for this purpose.>