Incidental papillary fibroelastoma of the tricuspid valve

J Cardiothorac Surg. 2014 Jul 10:9:123. doi: 10.1186/1749-8090-9-123.

Abstract

Primary cardiac tumors are very rare, papillary fibroelastoma (PFE) being the second most common benign tumor of the heart in previous series. However, as a consequence of increased imaging examinations, incidental PFE may represent the most common cardiac tumor. Their clinical presentation varies from incidental asymptomatic masses to severe life-threatening cardiovascular complications necessitating emergency surgery. Here we report the diagnostic evaluation and successful surgical resection of such a cardiac tumor in a 67-year-old woman. Histology confirmed diagnosis of a papillary fibroelastoma. This report demonstrates it's necessary to include cardiac tumors in the differential diagnosis of subtle and non-specific cardiothoracic symptoms.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Female
  • Fibroma / diagnosis*
  • Fibroma / pathology
  • Fibroma / surgery
  • Heart Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Heart Neoplasms / pathology
  • Heart Neoplasms / surgery
  • Humans
  • Incidental Findings
  • Tricuspid Valve / pathology*
  • Tricuspid Valve / surgery