Primary cardiac valve tumors

Papillary fibroelastoma of the mitral valve in a 3-year-old child: case report

A 3.5-year-old boy with stroke secondary to embolization of a primary cardiac tumor is presented. The diagnosis was made by two-dimensional echocardiography and confirmed intraoperatively. A papillary fibroelastoma was identified histologically. It is a rare condition and a diagnostic challenge, as patients are asymptomatic before embolization. In view of the severe consequences, prompt surgery is recommended.

Echocardiographic evaluation of papillary fibroelastoma: a case report and review of the literature

Papillary fibroelastomas comprise approximately 7.9% of benign primary cardiac tumors. Although papillary fibroelastomas were at first discovered incidentally at autopsy or during heart surgery, these tumors are increasingly being identified by echocardiography. This article reviews those papillary fibroelastomas detected by transthoracic or transesophageal echocardiography and discusses the echocardiographic features of these tumors, associated symptoms, and management. Echocardiography is important in influencing management decisions regarding excision, valve replacement, and valve repair.

Excision of papillary fibroelastoma arising from the septal leaflet of the tricuspid valve

A case of a papillary fibroelastoma (PFE) arising from the tricuspid valve was reported. It was incidentally detected by two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography. Prior to 1977, these tumors were exclusively found at postmortem examination. This is only the fourth reported case of a tricuspid valve PFE found by echocardiography, treated by excision, and with tricuspid valvuloplasty preserving the native valve.

Cardiac papillary fibroelastoma

Papillary fibroelastomas are rare cardiac tumors, but they are the most common primary tumor of the heart valves. These lesions occur on any of the valves or endothelial surfaces of the heart and may be detected by echocardiography, cardiac catheterization, during open heart operation for other conditions, or at autopsy. Because of their potential for cerebral and coronary embolization, even small papillary fibroelastomas should be excised.

Cardiac valvular chondroma

The case of a 36-year-old woman with a tricuspid valvular tumor is presented. The lesion was successfully resected through the right atrium. Histologic examination showed a chondroma arising in a cardiac valve.

Aortic valve papillary fibroelastoma. A diagnosis by transthoracic echocardiography

Cardiac papillary fibroelastomas are unusual, frond-like growths typically found on cardiac valves, diagnosed incidentally on autopsy or cardiac surgery, but rarely during life. We report a rare case of an aortic valve papillary fibroelastoma detected by transthoracic echocardiography and confirmed by histologic study.

Detection of multiple papillary fibroelastomas of the tricuspid valve by transesophageal echocardiography

A 66-year-old man without symptoms, referred for the treatment of moderate hypertension, was found to have a right atrial mass by two-dimensional echocardiography. On transesophageal echocardiography two masses were detected on the tricuspid valve, the first one on the posterior leaflet and the second smaller one on the anterior leaflet. These findings were confirmed at surgery. Histologic analysis revealed that the masses represented papillary fibroelastomas.