Cardiac Papillary Fibroelastoma: Pulmonic Valve Involvement With Pulmonary Embolism and Pulmonary Hypertension

Abstract

Papillary fibroelastomas are rarely seen tumors of the cardiac valves. We present a case of papillary fibroelastoma present on the pulmonic valve. Diagnosis was made by characteristic echocardiogram findings. Complications of pulmonary embolism and pulmonary hypertension were present. Due to contraindications, the patient was managed with anticoagulation instead of surgery.

Routine endoscopic robotic cardiac tumor resection using an 8‐mm working port and percutaneous cannulation

“…3 While myxomas and fibroelastomas are both considered benign in nature, they can cause dangerous sequelae including stroke, pulmonary embolism (if right-sided), and peripheral limb or organ ischemia. 2,[4][5][6][7][8] Cardiac tumor diagnosis poses interesting and complicated questions to clinicians and surgeons, as it requires discerning primary cardiac disease from other potential systemic processes, such as metastases or thromboses. Furthermore, many of the symptoms and laboratory values associated with myxomas and fibroelastomas are similar to those in systemic diseases, such as fever, cyanosis, and rash, in addition to an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein.…”

“…Other common primary tumors found in the heart include fibroelastomas, also known as fibroelastic papillomas, which are usually found on the aortic and mitral valves or the papillary muscles 3 . While myxomas and fibroelastomas are both considered benign in nature, they can cause dangerous sequelae including stroke, pulmonary embolism (if right‐sided), and peripheral limb or organ ischemia 2,4–8 . Cardiac tumor diagnosis poses interesting and complicated questions to clinicians and surgeons, as it requires discerning primary cardiac disease from other potential systemic processes, such as metastases or thromboses.…”