Table 1. Potential Embolic Sources Based on Criteria Proposed by the Cryptogenic Stroke/ESUS International Working Group.
| Potential Embolic Source | No. (%) of Cases (n = 2163) |
|---|---|
| Minor-risk potential cardioembolic sourcesa | 209 (9.7) |
| Mitral valve | |
| Myxomatous valvulopathy with prolapse | 2 (0.1) |
| Mitral annular calcification | 7 (0.3) |
| Aortic valve | |
| Aortic valve stenosis | 13 (0.6) |
| Calcific aortic valve | 4 (0.2) |
| Nonatrial fibrillation atrial dysrhythmias and stasis | |
| Atrial asystole and sick sinus syndrome | 43 (2.0) |
| Atrial high-rate episodes | 32 (1.5) |
| Atrial appendage stasis with reduced flow velocities or spontaneous echodensities | 21 (1.0) |
| Atrial structural abnormalities | |
| Atrial septal aneurysm | 13 (0.6) |
| Chiari network | 1 (0.0) |
| Left ventricle | |
| Moderate systolic or diastolic dysfunction, global or regional | 80 (3.7) |
| Ventricular noncompaction | 0 |
| Endomyocardial fibrosis | 0 |
| Covert paroxysmal atrial fibrillation | 43 (2.0) |
| Cancer associated | 79 (3.7) |
| Covert nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis | 79 (3.7) |
| Tumor emboli from occult cancer | 0 |
| Arteriogenic embolia | 522 (24.1) |
| Aortic arch atherosclerotic plaques | 520 (24.0) |
| Carotid artery nonstenotic plaques with ulceration | 4 (0.2) |
| Paradoxical embolism | 190 (8.8) |
| Patent foramen ovale | 168 (7.8) |
| Atrial septal defect | 10 (0.5) |
| Pulmonary arteriovenous fistula | 12 (0.6) |
| Undetermined embolism | 1120 (51.8) |
| Multiple embolic sourcesb | 198 (9.2) |
| Undetermined sourcec | 922 (42.6) |
Abbreviation: ESUS, embolic stroke of undetermined source.
a
Patients with 2 or more potential embolic sources of minor-risk potential cardioembolic sources or arteriogenic emboli were included in the minor-risk potential cardioembolic sources or arteriogenic emboli group, respectively.
b
Patients with 2 or more potential embolic sources of different etiologies were categorized as patients with multiple embolic sources in the undetermined embolism group.
c
Patients whose potential cause could not be identified were categorized as patients with undetermined source in the undetermined embolism group.