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Cardiac papillary fibroelastoma: a retrospect of four cases
Mi Zhang1, Xiaohong Liu, Zhigang Song
1Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, No168, Changhai Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai 200433, China.
Insights
Cardiac papillary fibroelastomas, though benign, pose embolic risks. Surgical removal is recommended for all patients to prevent complications like stroke.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Surgery
- Cardiac Oncology
- Pathology
Background:
- Cardiac papillary fibroelastomas are rare primary cardiac tumors.
- These tumors, despite being histologically benign, can lead to significant embolic events.
Observation:
- A review of 4 patients treated between 2004 and 2011 at Changhai Hospital.
- Tumor locations included the mitral valve, left atrium, and aortic valve.
- Indications for surgery varied, including cerebrovascular accident, mobile mass, chest tightness, and severe aortic regurgitation.
Findings:
- All 4 patients underwent surgical excision with valve replacement where necessary.
- Postoperative recovery was uneventful for all patients.
- Echocardiography at follow-up showed no evidence of regurgitation or tumor recurrence.
Implications:
- Surgical excision of cardiac papillary fibroelastomas is crucial, regardless of their benign nature.
- Early intervention can prevent potentially devastating embolic complications.
- This highlights the importance of prompt diagnosis and management of cardiac tumors.
Objective:
We have reviewed the medical histories of 4 patients who underwent operations between November 2004 and February 2011 at Changhai Hospital for cardiac papillary fibroelastoma.
Methods:
Diagnosis was demonstrably suggested by echocardiography. Tumor locations were mitral valve (1), left atrium (1), and aortic valve (2). Indications for operation were previous cerebrovascular accident for the mitral tumor, incidental apopsychia and giant mobile mass for the left atrium, ingravescent chest tightness and palpitations for the first aortic tumor, and severe regurgitation of aortic valve for the second aortic tumor. The study was approved by the Changhai Hospital Ethics Committee, and the consent from the patients or their immediate family was obtained.
Results:
Surgical excision with necessary valve replacement operations was performed in all cases. All patients had uneventful postoperative recoveries. No evidence of regurgitation or recurrence was seen on echocardiography at follow-up.
Conclusions:
Despite their histologically benign aspect, cardiac papillary fibroelastomas should be removed because of potential embolic complications.
