Rivaroxaban lessens the number of thrombi in the left atrium and right lower pulmonary vein, as illustrated by transoesophageal echocardiography but not 80-MDCT

Stroke is a clinically important problem. A left atrial thrombus is known as a cause of ischaemic stroke. A pulmonary vein thrombus (PVT) is thought to be rare; however, PVT is common in elderly patients. Additionally, images of PVT with transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) following treatment have not been well contrasted with that from either 64 or 80-slice multidetector CT (80-MDCT). The images of such changes depicted by TEE remain unknown. An 87-year-old man with hypertension was examined by 80-MDCT and TEE to check the cardiac thrombus. Although 80-MDCT did not depict the thrombus, TEE depicted the thrombus in the left atrium and right lower pulmonary vein (RLPV) clearly. After 6 months of rivaroxaban treatment, the thrombus in the RLPV decreased slightly and the thrombus in the left atrium became small and lucent, as estimated with TEE. Rivaroxaban decreased the size of the thrombus and changed the quality of the thrombus.