Aortic atherosclerosis as an embolic source

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in several industrial countries and cardiogenic embolism accounts for 15\u201330 % of ischaemic strokes [1\u20135]. The diagnosis of a cardioembolic source of stroke is frequently uncertain and relies on the identification of a potential cardiac source of embolism in the absence of significant autochthonous cerebrovascular occlusive disease. In this regard, echocardiography (either transthoracic \u2013 TTE or Transoesophageal \u2013 TEE) serves as a cornerstone in the evaluation and diagnosis of these patients [6, 7]