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Aortic valve lipomatous hamartoma in a young woman
Tomoyuki Wada1, Shinji Miyamoto, Hirofumi Anai
1Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Oita University School of Medicine, Yufu, Japan.
Insights
This report details a rare case of a lipomatous hamartoma on the aortic valve in a young woman. Surgical intervention and histopathology confirmed this unusual cardiac finding, the first of its kind reported.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pathology
Background:
- Lipomatous hamartomas are rare benign tumors typically found in the breast or mediastinum.
- Aortic valve masses can present diagnostic challenges, with differential diagnoses including infective endocarditis, myxoma, or malignancy.
Observation:
- A 17-year-old female presented with a cardiac murmur.
- Echocardiography revealed severe aortic regurgitation and a distinct, highly echogenic mass on the right aortic valve cusp.
- Surgical exploration identified a yellowish, bead-shaped mass on the aortic valve.
Findings:
- Histopathological examination definitively diagnosed the aortic valve mass as a lipomatous hamartoma.
- This represents the first documented instance of a lipomatous hamartoma originating from the aortic valve.
Implications:
- This case expands the known anatomical locations for lipomatous hamartomas.
- Highlights the importance of considering rare diagnoses in the evaluation of aortic valve masses, even in young patients.
- Underscores the role of advanced imaging and surgical pathology in accurate diagnosis and management.
Abstract:
We present a rare case of lipomatous hamartoma of the aortic valve. A 17-year-old woman was admitted with cardiac murmur. Echocardiography demonstrated severe aortic regurgitation and a highly echoic mass on the right cusp of the aortic valve. Surgery was performed with a differential diagnosis of chronic infective endocarditis or aortic valve tumor. At operation, a yellowish bead-shaped tumor was detected on the right cusp of the aortic valve, and aortic valve replacement was performed. Histopathological examination confirmed a lipomatous hamartoma. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of a lipomatous hamartoma located on the aortic valve.
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