PAPILLARY FIBROELASTOMA OF THE HEART - REPORT OF 6 CASES

Abstract

Papillary fibroelastoma is a rare cardiac lesion, mostly encountered as an incidental finding at the time of autopsy but occasionally seen during life. Although this condition generally is asymptomatic, a few cases had been associated with clinical problems, such as embolic phenomena, angina pectoris, outflow tract obstruction, and sudden death. Six examples of this lesion were studied, 5 occurring on the cardiac valves and 1 on the left ventricular septum. One lesion was detected by echocardiography, only the 3rd published case in which the lesion was visualized by this diagnostic procedure and only the 4th in which the lesion was seen during life. Echocardiography is sensitive in the detection of this often small, intracardiac lesion, and useful in evaluating whether a case, by virtue of its size or location, carries a significant risk of causing clinical problems and therefore requires treatment.