Unorthodox diagnostic procedure in a rare case of intrapericardial malignant schwannoma.

To establish preoperatively the cytology of a large right atrial tumour, an echoguided transcutaneous thin needle aspiration using a transhepatic approach was performed. Cytology suggested myxoma, which had been mimicked by regressive changes within the tumour, while the histologic examination of the removed specimen revealed a malignant pericardial Schwannoma. In spite of this discrepancy we think that solid tumours located at the free atrial wall are accessible to ultrasound guided puncture without great risk.

[Ventriculo-cardiac shunt in an adult with a fatal complication: diagnostic and therapeutic aspects. Case report].

A 29-year-old patient with a Pudenz-Heyer-shunt was assigned to examination because of exercise-induced dyspnea after 10 years of uncomplicated follow-up. Echocardiography established the diagnosis of advanced cor pulmonale, the cause being multiple pulmonary embolism produced by thrombotic layers on the shunt-tube. During anticoagulant therapy right heart decompensation with fatal outcome occurred.

[A transient right ventricular thrombus following myocardial infarct of the posterior wall--diagnosis using 2-dimensional echocardiography].

We present a right ventricular thrombus formation following a left ventricular posterior wall myocardial infarction; diagnosis was achieved by two-dimensional echocardiography. Follow-up revealed the decreasing echogenity of the thrombus and lastly its resolution.

[A transient mobile left ventricular thrombosis in dilated cardiomyopathy].

We present a transient mobile left ventricular thrombus formation in a case of dilated cardiomyopathy; diagnosis was achieved by two dimensional echocardiography. Resolution of the thrombus was documented after 36 hours of treatment with anticoagulant therapy.

[Mitral ring calcification in dialysis patients. Echocardiographic diagnosis and etiological factors].

Echocardiography for assessment of presence of mitral ring calcification was performed in 96 dialysis patients. The control group consisted of 1758 consecutive patients without renal disease. For the first time it was shown that dialysis patients with mitral ring calcification (group I) had aortic valve sclerosis, renal osteopathy and peripheral angiopathy more frequently than dialysis patients without mitral ring calcification (group II).