We present two cases in whom live/real time three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography (3DTEE) provided incremental value in the assessment of atherosclerotic disease in the aorta. In one patient, it identified additional atherosclerotic ulcers as well as thrombi within them which were missed by two-dimensional (2D) TEE. In both cases, the size of the large mobile atherosclerotic plaque was underestimated by 2DTEE as compared with 3DTEE. Furthermore, 3DTEE provided volume quantification of the thrombi and ulcers which is not possible by 2DTEE. The echocardiographic findings of atherosclerotic plaques were confirmed by computed tomography in one patient and by surgery in the other.
Keywords: aortic arch; aortic atheroma; ascending aorta; atheromatous ulcer; complex atheroma; three-dimensional echocardiography; three-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography; thrombus; two-dimensional echocardiography; two-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography.
© 2016, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.