CASE REPORTS   

Chirurgia 2012 April;25(2):115-7

Copyright © 2012 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Papillary fibroelastoma - A cardiac trebuchet

Senanayake E. ¹, Quinn D. ¹, Steeds R. ², Bonser R. ¹

¹ Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Mindelsohn Way, Edgbaston Birmingham, UK; ² Department of Cardiology, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Mindelsohn Way, Edgbaston Birmingham, UK

Papillary fibroelastomas are rare benign cardiac tumours that commonly originate from the aortic valve. With increasing reliability and diagnostic advantages of echocardiography, the incidence of these tumours is rising. The only presenting features maybe the embolic sequelae of these tumours. We report a case of an embolic stroke secondary to a papillary fibroelastoma. This tumour was situated on the anterior mitral valve leaflet chordae and exhibited a unique action. Echocardiography aids accurate diagnosis and in this case was pivotal in surgical approach and planning.