Complicated course consequences of a floating thrombus in ascending aorta.

The ascending aorta may be the site of origin of systemic embolization of an unidentifiable cause. We report a case in which a free-floating thrombus of an unknown cause was detected in the ascending aorta via transesophageal echocardiography. The removal of this pedunculated thrombus, which was attached onto a macroscopically and histologically mildly atherosclerotic aortic wall, led to an uneventful recovery for the patient.