Radiology Case Reports (Oct 2023)

A giant thrombus in the right atrium of a patient with acute promyelocytic leukemia M3

  • Pham Ngoc Thach, MD,
  • Ho Tran Ban, MD,
  • Huynh-Thi Vu Quynh, MD,
  • Tran-Thi Thanh, MD,
  • Phan Thao Nguyen, MD,
  • Trinh Nguyen Ha Vi, MD,
  • Tran Ba Hieu, MD,
  • Nguyen Duc Chinh, MD,
  • Tran Hoa, MD,
  • Bui The Dung, MD,
  • Nguyen Minh Duc, MD

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 18, no. 10
pp. 3598 – 3602

Abstract

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Acute promyelocytic leukemia is a special type of acute myeloid leukemia. Patients with this disease are at high risk of complications. Right atrial thrombosis is a rare but potentially serious complication. A 55-month-old girl with acute promyelocytic leukemia M3 was in her last phase of treatment. Radiologic examination revealed an echo structure in the right atrium that was still present after 6 weeks of anticoagulation treatment with enoxaparin. Cardiac surgery was performed to remove the mass, which was found to be a calcified thrombus. Although this is a rare occurrence, recognition of the possibility of a calcified thrombus may minimize misdiagnosis and allow surgical retrieval if the thrombus is sufficiently large.

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