Papillary fibroelastoma as an accidental finding in a multislice computed tomography of coronary arteries

Papillary fibroelastomas represent less than 10% of all primary cardiac tumours. They are usually incidental autopsy or surgical findings, or detected during echocardiography or catheterization. The case of a 58-year-old man with typical exertional chest pain hospitalized for an elective multislice computed tomography (MSCT) scan of the coronary arteries is described. The MSCT scan showed a pathological, mobile lesion within the aorta lumen only, not obstructing the ostia of the coronary arteries, and was confirmed by echocardiography. The typical features of the tumour in the MSCT scan and on echocardiography were the basis for the diagnosis of papillary fibroelastomas in the patient. Surgical excision was proposed, but the patient declined.