Mural Thrombosis and Arterial Embolism in Mitral Stenosis

Abstract

A clinicopathologic study of 51 cases of mitral stenosis with intracardiac mural thrombi is presented with particular reference to the locations of these thrombi and their relationship to the associated thromboembolic phenomena. In 27 cases the thrombi were present only in the left side of the heart, in 15 cases they were in both sides of the heart, and in 9 cases they were present only in the right atrium. Of 42 cases in which thrombi were located in the left side of the heart, in 20 the thrombi were limited to the left auricular appendage. In the remaining 22 cases in this group the thrombi in the left side of the heart were situated on the main atrial wall, in the auricular appendage and on the main atrial wall together, or in the left ventricle. Systemic arterial emboli occurred frequently regardless of the particular site in the left side of the heart at which the thrombus formed. Of 24 cases in which thrombi were situated in the right side of the heart, in 20 the thrombi were restricted to the right auricular appendage.