Incidental finding of a papillary fibroelastoma of the mitral valve chordae

Abstract

Cardiac papillary fibroelastoma (CPF) is a rare neoplasm with predilection for heart valves, usually found incidentally on routine echocardiography. Most CPFs are asymptomatic; rarely, they are diagnosed because of cardiac symptoms or after an embolic event. This report describes the case of a 69-year-old woman with the incidental finding of a mass attached to the anterior mitral valve chordae. Owing to the risk of embolic complications, surgery was emergently performed with complete resection of the mass and preservation of the mitral valve. Histological evaluation confirmed the diagnosis of CPF. © The Author 2008.