We present an 81-year old male in whom a routine carotid artery ultrasonographic follow-up examination incidentally revealed a large, free-floating thrombus (FFT) of the right internal carotid artery. This case focuses on the clinical decision-making regarding FFTs, which constitute a rare condition lacking a diagnostic gold standard with few available data concerning optimum treatment and natural course-in particular regarding patients in whom FFT is an incidental finding. We were able to demonstrate the accuracy of carotid artery ultrasonography in the detection as well as follow-up of FFT. Of clinical interest is furtherly a possible partial disappearance by spontaneous re-adhesion or resolution of the FFT.
Keywords: carotid ultrasonography; free-floating thrombus; incidental findings.
© 2020 The Authors. Journal of Clinical Ultrasound published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.