Rinsho Shinkeigaku (Clinical Neurology)

Original Article

Utility of transesophageal echocardiography for etiologic diagnosis of centrum ovale infarcts

Yuta Kojima, M.D.1), Hidesato Takezawa, M.D.1), Yasumasa Yamamoto, M.D.1), Takehiro Yamada, M.D.1), Eijirou Tanaka, M.D.1), Daisuke Nakashima, M.D.1), Takamasa Kitaoji, M.D.1) and Yoshinari Nagakane, M.D.1)

1) Department of Neurology, Kyoto 2nd Red Cross Hospital

A small centrum ovale infarct in the territory of the white matter medullary artery can be caused not only by embolism but also small-vessel disease. In our study, thorough screening for emboligenic diseases was performed, including the modality of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), in patients with an acute, isolated, small (less than 1.5 cm) infarct in the centrum ovale. Of 79 patients enrolled in this study, 45 had emboligenic diseases, in whom a patent foramen ovale was detected in 29 patients, complicated aortic arch lesion in 15, atrial fibrillation in 6, occlusive carotid disease in 2, and others in 2. The majority (80%) of the emboligenic diseases were diagnosed by TEE. Therefore, TEE may be mandatory for the etiologic diagnosis of centrum ovale infarcts.
Full Text of this Article in Japanese PDF (792K)

(CLINICA NEUROL, 60: 414|419, 2020)
key words: ischemic stroke, centrum ovale, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), patent foramen ovale, aortic arch atheroma

(Received: 22-Oct-19)