Emboli in transit

Transesophageal echocardiogram of the descending thoracic aorta in a patient who later died from cholesterol crystal embolization syndrome, with intestinal infarction and renal failure. Note the massive atherosclerotic plaque. The pictures on the right (1A, 2A, 3A) were taken one or two seconds after their respective pictures on the left. The arrows point to small particles of embolic material moving in transit in the aortic lumen.