[Papillary fibroelastoma of the endocardium]

Six cases of papillary fibroelastoma of the endocardium were presented. All cases appeared as incidental findings at autopsy. Grossly, they were verrucous or tuft-like growths less than 1 cm in size on cardiac valves. Histologically, they consisted of a fibrocollagenous stalk and multiple papillary fronds with typical zonal architecture: central dense hyaline core containing elastic fibers surrounded by a layer of myxoid matrix and covered by hyperplastic endothelial cells. At the surface of papillary fronds there were foci of fibrin deposition. Histogenesis of papillary fibroelastomas is unclear, they are considered variously as primary benign tumours, hamartomas or organized thrombi.