Use of echocardiography in detecting cardiac sources of embolus

Up to 20% of all ischemic strokes are felt to be the result of emboli from the heart. High resolution transthoracic (TTE) and transesophageal (TEE) echocardiography have been the principal diagnostic tools for detecting associated cardiac abnormalities and for guiding medical and surgical approaches to these patients. In addition to identifying the precise location and morphological characteristics of intracardiac masses, echocardiography has improved our ability to predict embolic potential of these masses. Specific cardiac lesions that are predisposed to stroke and are readily identifiable by echocardiography include: cardiac thrombi, valvular vegetations, cardiac tumors, aortic atheroma, atrial septal aneurysm, and regional left ventricular wall abnormalities. Careful interrogation of patients with cerebrovascular accidents has identified a potential cardiac source of embolus in approximately 30%. This is largely due to the advent of TEE, which has provided much better assessment of posterior cardiac chambers including left atrium and left atrial appendage. Use of TEE in identifying a cardiac source of embolus is indicated in patients with stroke who are young, have no apparent cerebrovascular disease, or have recurrent embolic events. Echocardiography is an essential diagnostic tool in evaluating patients with a suspected cardiac source of embolus. TTE and TEE provide invaluable information regarding the majority of cardiac sources of embolus.     

Transthoracic echocardiography using second harmonic imaging: diagnostic alternative to transesophageal echocardiography for the detection of atrial right to left shunt in patients with cerebral embolic events

OBJECTIVES: We sought to evaluate whether transthoracic contrast echocardiography using second harmonic imaging (SHI) is a diagnostic alternative to transesophageal contrast echocardiography (TEE) for the detection of atrial right to left shunt. BACKGROUND: Paradoxic embolism is considered to be the major cause of cerebral ischemic events in young patients. Contrast echocardiography using TEE has proven to be superior to transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) for the detection of atrial shunting, SHI is a new imaging modality that enhances the visualization of echocardiographic contrast agents. METHODS: We evaluated 111 patients with an ischemic cerebral embolic event for the presence of atrial right to left shunt using an intravenous (IV) contrast agent in combination with three different echocardiographic imaging modalities: 1) TTE using fundamental imaging (FI); 2) TTE using SHI; and 3) TEE. The severity of atrial shunting and the duration of contrast visibility within the left heart chambers were evaluated for each imaging modality. Image quality was assessed separately for each modality by semiquantitative scoring (0 = poor to 3 = excellent). Presence of atrial right to left shunt was defined as detection of contrast bubbles in the left atrium within the first three cardiac cycles after contrast appearance in the right atrium either spontaneously or after the Valsalva maneuver. RESULTS: A total of 57 patients showed evidence of atrial right to left shunt with either imaging modality. Fifty-one studies were positive with TEE, 52 studies were positive with SHI, and 32 were positive with FI (p<0.001 for FI vs. SHI and TEE). The severity of contrast passage was significantly larger using SHI (61.6+/-80.2 bubbles) compared to FI (53.7+/-69.6 bubbles; p<0.005 vs. SHI) but was not different compared to TEE (43.9+/-54.3 bubbles; p = NS vs. SHI). The duration of contrast visibility was significantly longer for SHI (17.4+/-12.4 s) compared to FI (13.1+/-9.7 s; p<0.001) and TEE (11.9+/-9.6 s; p<0.02). Mean image quality improved significantly from FI (1.5+/-0.8) to SHI (2.0+/-0.8; p<0.001 vs. FI) and TEE (2.5+/-0.7; p<0.001 vs. SHI). CONCLUSIONS: In combination with IV contrast injections, TEE and SHI have a comparable yield for the detection of atrial right to left shunt. Both modalities may miss patients with atrial shunting. In young patients with an unexplained cerebrovascular event and no clinical evidence of cardiac disease, a positive SHI study may obviate the need to perform a TEE study to search for cardiac sources of emboli.     

Comparison of transesophageal to transthoracic color Doppler echocardiography in the identification of intracardiac mycotic aneurysms in infective endocarditis

We report on cases of mycotic aneurysms in a group of 14 patients with infective endocarditis, all of whom were evaluated with transthoracic (TTE) and transesophageal (TEE) color Doppler echocardiography. Four mycotic aneurysms were found, one each in the left ventricular outflow tract, the right coronary sinus of Valsalva, the anterior mitral leaflet, and the atrial septum. With TTE, only three of four cases of mycotic aneurysms could be detected. Utilizing TEE, however, all were detected and their connections with the heart chambers or great vessels could be readily and clearly depicted, especially those in the atrial septum and mitral leaflet. We are of the opinion that TEE is superior to TTE in the identification and detailed analysis of mycotic aneurysms complicating infective endocarditis. In addition, we feel that echocardiography may help evaluate the progress of the disease, the location and direction of infection, and the extent of involvement of the mycotic aneurysms, providing useful information for guiding surgical intervention.     

经食道超声心图评价成人先天性房间隔缺损

目的：探讨经食道超声心动图评价成人先天性心脏病的价值。方法：我们用经食道超声心动图（TEE）诊断成人先天性心脏病173例,156例经心导管和／或手术证实。结果：在131例经手术和／或心导管证实的房间隔缺损（ASD）的病例,经胸超声心动图（TTE）显示ADS109例,TEE显示ASD128例,TTE诊断房间隔缺损的敏感性为83％,TEE诊断房间隔缺损的敏感性为98％,值得注意的是,10例静脉窦型ASD,TTE仅能显示3例,而TEE能观察到所有的10例,且所有的TEE检查的病例,能清晰地观察到与静脉窦型ASD相关的部分肺静脉异位引流,3例冠状静脉窦部位的小ASD,TTE显示2例,但TEE未能显示,结论：TEE探查ADS明显优于TTE,尤其是静脉窦型ASD,但靠近冠状静脉窦部位的小ASD,TEE并不比TTE检查优越,同时TEE对其他先天性心脏病异常结构的观察也提供大量的附加信息。     

Clinical utility of transoesophageal echocardiography--preliminary experience of 100 cases.

We performed transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) and compared its results with transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE) studies in a consecutive series of 100 cases. TEE was performed with a 5 MHz transducer with pulsed wave, continuous wave and colour Doppler facilities. All the patients were in unsedated state; the initial 50 were, in addition, monitored noninvasively for any change in heart rate, blood pressure or arterial oxygen saturation. The procedure was well tolerated by all; one patient had transient ventricular bigeminy. Except increase in heart rate and systolic blood pressure at the time of insertion of probe, there was no change in any of the clinical parameters studied. In patients of mitral stenosis, a thrombus in left atrium (LA) or left atrial appendage (LAA) was seen in 7/52 TEE studies, as compared to 4/52 TTE studies. LAA thrombi (2 cases) were detected only on TEE. Following balloon mitral valvuloplasty, a small atrial septal defect was seen in 6/8 TEE, but only 2/8 TTE studies. In 20 cases with doubtful atrial septal defects on TTE, TEE revealed an intact septum in 6 and delineated the anatomy of the defect in the remaining 14. TEE facilitated detection and better visualisation of paravalvular regurgitation in 4 cases with mitral and 3 cases with aortic valve prosthesis. In addition, TEE helped in excluding vegetations in 3 suspected cases of infective endocarditis and in studying details of 2 intracardiac masses. We conclude, TEE can be safely performed in conscious unsedated patients and provides valuable information in addition to transthoracic echocardiography.     

Transesophageal Echocardiography in Candidates for Percutaneous Balloon Mitral Valvuloplasty

Prior to percutaneous balloon mitral valvuloplasty (PBMV), mitral valve morphology and the presence of left atrial thrombi are usually evaluated by transthoracic two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography (TTE). This study analyzes the impact of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in addition to TTE on the selection of candidates considered for PBMV for mitral stenosis. Seventy-five patients with severe mitral stenosis who were considered as appropriate candidates for PBMV based on TTE findings were studied. In 19 (25%) patients, TEE revealed findings that were essential for PBMV but were missed by TTE: left atrial thrombi (n = 14; including 13 in left atrial appendage), right atrial thrombus (n = 1), incomplete cor triatriatum (n = 1) and mitral valve vegetation (n = 1). In two other patients, a left atrial thrombus had been suspected by TTE but could be excluded by TEE. TEE and TTE revealed similar scores of thickening, calcification, and mobility of the mitral valve. Compared to TTE, thickening of the subvalvular apparatus was graded lower using horizontal plane TEE due to shadowing by the mitral valve (echo score 1.8 ± 0.8 vs 1.4 ± 0.7; P < 0.05) whereas results from longitudinal plane TEE were similar to TTE findings. The data show that due to the high prevalence of left atrial thrombi, TEE should be performed in addition to TTE in all patients prior to PBMV.     

Transesophageal echocardiographic findings in patients with orthotopic heart transplantation.

This study was performed to determine the diagnostic value of TEE in recipients of orthotopic heart transplantation. Findings on TEE were compared with those of TTE in 30 patients with orthotopic heart transplantation. Transesophageal echocardiography identified left atrial appendage and flow across the interatrial septum ... findings not detected by TTE. In addition, pronounced bulging of the interatrial septum was seen in six patients by TEE and not by TTE. Spontaneous echo contrast (smoke) in the atria was detected by TEE in 14 patients and by TTE in one patient. Abnormal geometry of the atria and donor-recipient atrial anastomosis was identified in all patients by TEE and TTE. Our findings suggest that TEE should be selectively utilized in the operating room, in patients with suspected atrial thrombi, and in those with clinically significant right ventricular volume overload to assess integrity of interatrial anastomosis.     

Second harmonic transthoracic echocardiography: the new reference screening method for the detection of patent foramen ovale.

AIM: Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is still considered as the reference method for the non-invasive detection of right-to-left shunts. Echocardiographic laboratories are spending most of their time performing TEE studies to exclude a thromboembolic cardiac disease. In a considerable proportion of these patients the question can be simplified to exclude a PFO. Replacing these TEE studies by TTE would result in a considerable gain in time and money. We evaluated the value of transthoracic echocardiography with second harmonic imaging (TTE) (SH) and peripheral intravenous agitated saline solutions in the detection of patent foramen ovale (PFO) in a large cohort of patients. METHODS: In 256 consecutive patients, TEE and TTE (SH) with the consecutive administration of three intravenous contrast injections of agitated saline injections before the release phase of the Valsalva manoeuvre were performed. Semi-quantification and timing of contrast passage were assessed during both imaging modalities. A shunt was present if at least one imaging modality showed microbubbles appearing in the left atrium. PFO was defined when these bubbles appeared early and arteriovenous pulmonary malformations were suspected if bubbles appeared late after the opacification of the right atrium. Shunts were considered important when >20 bubbles were present in one frame in the left atrium or left ventricle. RESULTS: From the 256 patients, 60 presented a passage of contrast from the right to the left atrium in at least one imaging modality. PFO was detected by TEE in 53 patients and by TTE in 55 patients (sensitivity: 90.5% and specificity: 96.5% if TEE is accepted as the golden standard) (p>0.05). Considering only the important shunts TEE detected 39 important shunts and TTE 46 important shunts (sensitivity: 89.7% and specificity: 94.6%) (p>0.05). AV pulmonary malformations were detected by TEE in 7 patients and by TTE in 10 patients (sensitivity: 85.7% and specificity: 98.3%) (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In this large cohort of patients TTE (SH) is as accurate as TEE for the detection of PFO and late right-to-left shunts. If the only purpose of TEE is the detection of PFO such as in young cryptogenic stroke patients and in divers, TEE can be replaced by TTE (SH).     

The clinical role of transoesophageal echocardiography

The role of transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) was evaluated in a consecutive series of 100 procedures performed in 86 patients (age 17–81, mean 56 years). All patients had prior transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). TEE was performed with a 5 MHz phased array transoesophageal transducer with pulsed wave Doppler and colour flow mapping capability. Forty-four per cent of patients received intravenous sedation and 36% received antibiotic prophylaxis. There were no complications of TEE. The TTE and TEE findings were compared. In patients referred for possible cardiac source of embolism, left atrial thrombi were detected in 8/27 TEE studies but in none of 27 TTE studies. In 12 patients with prosthetic valve dysfunction TEE distinguished prosthetic from periprosthetic regurgitation in 9/12 studies compared to 3/12 with TTE. In 11 patients with suspected aortic dissection TEE correctly detected dissection in all seven cases in which the diagnosis was subsequently confirmed, whereas TTE showed only equivocal findings in two cases. Vegetations were detected by TEE in 4/5 studies in patients with proven native valve endocarditis and by TTEin 2/5. No vegetations were detected by TTE or TEE in five studies in patients with proven prosthetic valve endocarditis. Compared with other investigations there were no false positive TEE studies and one possible false negative study. We conclude that TEE is a safeprocedure which often provides additional clinical information to transthoracic echocardiography.     

Transthoracic echocardiographic predictors of left atrial appendage thrombus

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is commonly performed to detect the presence of a left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombus in the setting of an embolic event or before an anticipated electrical cardioversion for atrial fibrillation. The predictive value of transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE) findings in these patients has not been well defined. This study evaluated whether TTE findings can predict LAA thrombi using TEE as the gold standard for the identification of LAA thrombi. From November 1995 to March 2003, 10,753 patients underwent TEE to exclude LAA thrombi after embolic events or before cardioversion. Of these, 3,768 patients had complete TTE examinations performed <2 weeks before undergoing TEE. Demographics, TTE, and cardiac rhythm variables were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression to identify predictors of LAA thrombi diagnosed on subsequent TEE. LAA thrombi were identified by TEE in 199 patients (5.3%). Several TTE variables predicted LAA thrombi by TEE, including mitral stenosis, atrial fibrillation, tricuspid regurgitation, valvular prosthesis, left ventricular dysfunction, and right ventricular dysfunction. Mitral regurgitation was associated with a reduced risk for LAA thrombi (odds ratio 0.61, p = 0.003). A structurally normal heart in sinus rhythm (n = 247, 6.9%) had a 100% negative predictive value for LAA thrombi. In conclusion, several TTE variables were found to be predictive of LAA thrombi. The likelihood of LAA thrombi being found on TEE was infinitely small in the absence of these variables and the presence of sinus rhythm.     

Accurate Localization and Echocardiographic‐Pathologic Correlation of Tricuspid Valve Angiolipoma by Intraoperative Transesophageal Echocardiography

Angiolipoma (angiolipohamartoma) of the tricuspid valve (TV) is a rare tumor which may be occasionally misdiagnosed as right atrial (RA) myxoma. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) provides accurate information regarding the size, shape, mobility as well as site of attachment of RA tumors and is a superior modality as compared to transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). Correct diagnosis of RA tumors has therapeutic significance and guides management of patients, as myxomas are generally more aggressively managed than lipomas. We describe a rare case of a pedunculated angiolipoma of the TV which was misdiagnosed as RA myxoma on TTE and discuss the echocardiographic‐pathologic correlates of the tumor as well as its accurate localization by TEE. (ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Volume 26, November 2009)     

The role of transesophageal echocardiography in the management of patients with acute and chronic pulmonary thromboembolism

Acute and chronic pulmonary thromboembolism carry high mortality. The role of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), however, has not been well delineated in patients with suspected pulmonary thromboembolism. The aim of the present study was to demonstrate the value of Tee in patients with various clinical manifestations of pulmonary thromboembolic disease. Twelve patients--ten males and two females, age 47-85 years--are presented in whom central pulmonary thromboembolism was found by TEE. Six patients were referred for breathlessness and had moderate to severe pulmonary hypertension (PH) with (3) or without (1) right atrial thrombus or had right heart dilatation (1) or right ventricular myxoma (1) on transthoracic echocardiography (TTE). Thrombolysis (2), surgery (2), and heparin (2) treatment was performed without angiography. All but one patient recovered. Six patients had severe PH by TTE, one of them had a right atrial thrombus. Angiography was done in five patients in whom surgery was considered. Pulmonary thromboendarterectomy was successfully performed in two patients, it was contraindicated in two patients for advanced age or severe left ventricular dysfunction, both patients died during follow-up, and two patients were waiting for surgery. In conclusion: TEE has a definite role in the management of patients with acute pulmonary thromboembolism or in pulmonary embolism associated with right-sided intracardiac masses and in the selection of patients with PH for pulmonary thromboendarterectomy.     

Comparative assessment of left atrial appendage by transesophageal and combined two- and three-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography

Objective: Our objective was to compare the utility of combined two‐dimensional (2D) transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and three‐dimensional (3D) TTE versus 2D transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in evaluation of the left atrium (LA) and LA appendage (LAA) for clot. Background: 2DTEE, usually performed to visualize the LAA, is semi‐invasive and not without risks. With improved technology the LAA has been increasingly visualized by 2DTTE and 3DTTE in many patients. Methods: We compared combined 2DTTE and 3DTTE with 2DTEE in evaluating the LA/LAA for a thrombus. Ninety‐two patients underwent 2DTTE, 3DTTE, and 2DTEE. An additional 20 patients, in whom TEE could not be performed, underwent 2DTTE and 3DTTE. Results: LA and LAA could be visualized in all patients. Of 92 patients studied, 74 had no thrombus and 7 had thrombus in the LAA by all modalities. Eleven patients, 9 with atrial fibrillation (AF), had a suspected thrombus by 2DTEE, but 3DTTE cropping clearly showed these to be prominent pectinate muscles which were seen in short axis on 2DTEE as rounded echo dense masses and therefore mimicked thrombi. These 9 patients with AF underwent successful cardioversion without any complications. Of the 20 patients in whom TEE could not be performed, 19 had no thrombus in the LA/LAA and 1 had a clot in the LAA. These 19 patients underwent successful cardioversion without complications. Conclusions: Our preliminary study suggests that combined 2DTTE and 3DTTE has comparable accuracy to TEE in evaluating the LA and LAA for thrombus. In some patients TEE, but not 3DTTE, may misdiagnose pectinate musculature as thrombus.     

Contribution of transesophageal echocardiography in the investigation of the atrium in systemic embolism]

Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is a semi-invasive examination that provides better images of the atrium than classical transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) due to the anatomical positioning of the captor and the high frequency Doppler apparatus used. We used TEE and TTE to evaluate the incidence of the cardiac origin of emboli in 46 patients with unexplained stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA): 23 had documented heart disease (mean age 60 years) and 23 had no cardiac disease (mean age 43 years). Among those with existing heart disease, 4% of the anomalies certainly or probably responsible for the emboli in addition to the underlying cardiopathy were detected by TTE versus 37% by TEE (as compared to values reported in the literature: 25% by TTE and 51% by TEE). In particular, 4 abnormalities were better visualized by TEE: left atrial thrombus, especially those located in the auricle (5 TEE versus 1 TTE); spontaneous contrast showing the swirl of blood stagnating in the dilated left atria of patients with mitral valve disease seen in 7-39% of the TIA by TEE as compared to less than 1% by TTE (3 TEE versus 0 TTE); aneurysm of the interauricular septum (AIAS) observed in 5-16% of the TIA by TEE as opposed to 0-1% by TTE (4 TEE versus 1 TTE); patent foramen ovale (PFO) was noted more frequently following injection of a contrast medium when visualized by TEE (19-22%) than by TTE (6-8%) and can explain the passage of a paradoxical embolus (1 TEE versus 0 TTE). The incidences of left atrial thrombus, AIAS and PFO are well correlated with systemic emboli, especially in young adults having experienced an unexplained TIA without underlying cardiopathy. TEE is an easy-to-use and well tolerated technique for detecting the cardiac origin of emboli in unexplained stroke. Whether to opt for a medical or surgical treatment to avoid recurrences is discussed.     

经食管超声评估风湿性房颤栓塞危险性的价值

目的　探讨经食管超声心动图 (TEE)评估风湿性房颤患者栓塞危险性的价值。方法　 10 6例心房颤动患者分为风湿性房颤组 (n =5 1)和特发性房颤组 (n =5 5 ) ,所有患者同时进行TTE和TEE检查 ,对两组间左房自发性超声对比现象 (leftatrialspontaneousechocontrast,LASEC)的严重程度、LA、LVd、LVs、FS、二尖瓣瓣口面积等进行比较。结果　 10 6例中经TEE检查发现 14个血栓 ,而TTE检查仅发现 4个血栓 ,两组间左房血栓发生率、LASEC的严重程度、LA、FS及二尖瓣瓣口面积均有显著差异 (P <0 0 5 ) ,相关分析显示LASEC与LA呈显著正相关 ,与二尖瓣瓣口面积显著负相关。结论　风湿性房颤患者左房血栓发生率高 ,发生栓塞危险性较大 ,应积极抗凝治疗。TEE对于房颤患者血栓的检测及栓塞危险性的评估较TTE更有优势 ,LASEC、LA、二尖瓣瓣口面积可作为房颤患者左房血栓形成的预示因子。     

Transesophageal echocardiography in the detection of inferior vena cava and cardiac metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma

Antemortem diagnosis of inferior vena cava (IVC) and cardiac metastasis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is difficult but important before consideration of curative resection. There are only a few cases of cardiac metastasis of HCC which have been diagnosed antemortem by echocardiography. Accordingly, 18 consecutive patients with HCC who were potential candidates for curative resection were studied by transthoracic (TTE) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). One (6%) and two (11%) patients had cardiac and IVC metastasis of HCC, respectively, which was detected by two-dimensional TTE. In contrast, by using TEE, four patients (22%) showed tumor invasion of the IVC, of whom two (11%) had tumor mass extending into the right atrium (RA). There was no significant difference in age, serum level of alpha-fetoprotein, and percentage of right liver lobar involvement between those with and without cardiac metastasis. Patients without cardiac metastasis detected on TTE or TEE had significantly longer mean duration of survival (5.0 ±2.1 vs. 2.1 ± 1.0 months; p < 0.05). In summary, TEE may be more useful than TTE in the detection of cardiac metastasis of HCC, which occurred in 22% of patients whose primary tumor was considered to be surgically resectable in our series. This can be safely performed in patients with HCC and can provide optimal visualization of the IVC and RA. The high prevalence of subclinical cardiac metastasis in HCC mandates the use of TEE in all patients with HCC prior to surgical intervention.     

The value of transesophageal echocardiography in the diagnosis of cardiac metastasis

To assess the diagnostic value of transesophageal two-dimensional echocardiography (TEE) as compared with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), TTE and TEE were performed in eight consecutive patients (age range from 20 to 76 years, six male and two female) with clinical evidence of malignant tumors arising from the liver (n = 1), lung (n = 3), larynx (n = 1), osteogenic sarcoma (n = 1), lymphoma (n = 1), and yolk sac tumor in the anterior mediastinum (n = 1). In one case, the gastroscope could not be inserted because of tumor compression of the esophagus. Transesophageal echocardiography provided superior imaging in the detection of intracavitary metastatic lesions. In the case of right ventricular outflow tract tumor and greater vessel involvement, TTE may provide more imaging than TEE due to a blind area in this region by the transesophageal approach. In conclusion, TEE is complementary to TTE in the diagnosis of metastatic cardiac tumor.     

The role of transesophageal echocardiography in the diagnosis of ischemic stroke in the elderly

Cardioembolic stroke is quite common (15% of all ischemic strokes) not only in younger patients but also in the elderly. Clinical diagnosis is often difficult. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) seems to be the most reliable non-invasive method of examination. Because of the close topographical relationship between heart and esophagus, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is particularly suitable to evaluate those cardiac structures (left atrium and appendage) where the embolus can most likely be found. Using TTE and TEE, we studied 62 patients older than 65 years of age (mean age 76 +/- 6), having been affected by ischemic stroke. TEE proved to be clearly superior to TTE in the diagnosis of cardioembolic stroke, without any major complication during the execution of this diagnostic method.     

Transesophageal echocardiography in the selection of patients prior to percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty. Study of 71 consecutive patients]

We studied 71 consecutive patients with mitral stenosis candidates for mitral valvuloplasty by means of transthoracic (TTE) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). We compared the information obtained by the two methods with respect to: mitral valve morphology (echocardiographic score), severity of mitral regurgitation, prevalence of atrial thrombus and incidence of spontaneous contrast in the left atrium. The assessment of valvular thickening, mobility and calcification was similar by the two methods. The assessment of the subvalvular disease was significantly lower by TEE than the assessed by TTE (1.66 +/- 0.6 vs 2.12 +/- 0.5; p less than 0.001). The total "score" obtained by TEE was significantly lower than the "score" obtained by TTE (7.32 +/- 1.9 vs 7.88 +/- 1.8; p +/- 0.001), but when we classified the patients in groups according to the "score", there were no significant differences between the groups obtained by the two methods. We detected mitral regurgitation in 27 patients (38%) by TTE and in 36 (50%) by TEE. The difference in the quantification of the mitral regurgitation was no more than one grade in any case. Atrial thrombus were detected in 16 patients (22%) by TEE and in 2 patients by TTE. Spontaneous contrast was seen in 53 patients (75%) by TEE and in only 1 by TTE. We conclude that TEE is essential in detecting atrial thrombus, but does not provide any new information about mitral valve morphology and mitral regurgitation in the selection of patients for percutaneous mitral valvuloplasty.