Distal migration of a floating carotid thrombus in a patient using oral contraceptives: a case report
Watanabe, M.; Mori, T.; Imai, K.; Izumoto, H.; Hirano, T.; Uchino, M.
Journal of Medical Case Reports 3: 8389
2009
ISSN/ISBN: 1752-1947 PMID: 19830227 DOI: 10.4076/1752-1947-3-8389Document Number: 207777
We report the case of a patient with distal migration of a floating carotid thrombus caused by oral contraceptives. A 48-year-old woman using oral contraceptives suffered from dysarthria and gait disturbance. Examinations, including ultrasound and cerebral arteriogram, revealed a floating thrombus at the left carotid bifurcation with no stenosis. Despite antithrombotic therapy, the floating carotid thrombus migrated to the ipsilateral middle cerebral artery, resulting in a severe stroke. Some floating thrombi are resistant to conservative therapy and have a risk of distal migration, which may cause a major stroke in the acute stage.