Right-sided infective endocarditis or thrombus? Report of two cases diagnosed by transthoracic echocardiography

Abstract

Abstract Background Right-sided infective endocarditis (RSIE) occurs less commonly but is sometimes difficult to diagnose depending on the developing site and causative organism, especially when differentiated from thrombus. There are few reports describing the diagnostic and analytical ideas of tricuspid valve infective endocarditis and pulmonary artery infective endocarditis. Case presentation We present two cases of RSIE, one in the tricuspid valve and one in the pulmonary artery, which was misdiagnosed as thrombus by computed tomography angiography. Conclusions Vegetation and thrombus can be distinguished according to the nature of the mass, the location of attachment, and the clinical manifestation. Echocardiography enables real-time dynamic observation of the mass, the structural changes of the heart, and cardiac hemodynamic changes caused by various complications and can effectively differentiate vegetation from thrombus.