Free-floating thrombus of the carotid artery with a homozygous methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene mutation: a case report.

Necmettin Colak, Yunus Nazli, Dilek Kosehan, Mehmet Fatih Alpay, Omer Cakir

Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, University of Fatih, Ankara, Turkey. ncolak44@gmail.com

Vascular 2013 Feb

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Free-floating thrombus (FFT) of the carotid artery is a rare condition of currently unknown etiology. We describe a symptomatic patient with an FFT in the left common carotid artery. A duplex ultrasonography scan showed the presence of a mobile floating thrombus moving in cyclical motion with the cardiac cycles in the left common carotid artery. During emergency surgery, an FFT was seen at this location and removed. No underlying wall defect was seen at the time of surgery. In a genetic screening test, TT homozygous for the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T genetic polymorphisms was detected. The patient recovered uneventfully, with no neurogical events. Lifelong anticoagulant therapy was recommended. An aggressive surgical approach is recommended in the patient to prevent embolic episodes.

Citation

Necmettin Colak, Yunus Nazli, Dilek Kosehan, Mehmet Fatih Alpay, Omer Cakir. Free-floating thrombus of the carotid artery with a homozygous methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene mutation: a case report. Vascular. 2013 Feb;21(1):35-8