[Protruding plaques of the thoracic aorta in the transesophageal echocardiogram: clinical and echographic characteristics].

BACKGROUND

Transesophageal echocardiography has a better sensitivity than conventional echocardiography for the detection of protruding atherosclerotic plaques of the thoracic aorta.

AIM

To study the clinical and echographic features of protruding aortic plaques detected with transesophageal echocardiography.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Clinical histories of 308 patients subjected to transesophageal echocardiography were reviewed. Subjects with protruding aortic plaques > 0.5 cm were selected.

RESULTS

Fifteen patients had protruding aortic plaques on transesophageal echocardiography and none of these were detected with conventional echocardiography. All these patients were in sinus rhythm and had high blood pressure. Ten subjects (67%) had a history of ischemic cerebrovascular or peripheral artery diseases (compared to 31% of subjects without protruding plaques) and in seven, the plaque was the only embolic source. Six patients (40%) smoked and 4 (27%) had coronary artery disease. One patient was diabetic and one had hypercholesterolemia.

CONCLUSIONS

Transesophageal echocardiography allows the detection of protruding aortic plaques that are potential embolic sources in patients with vascular diseases.