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Updated: May 10, 2026
09:42
A Fibrin-Enriched and tPA-Sensitive Photothrombotic Stroke Model
Published on: June 4, 2021
Cardiac papillary fibroelastoma presenting as acute stroke
Atif Saleem Abbasi1, Mark Da Costa, Terry Hennessy
1Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Limerick, Limerick, Ireland. atifabbasi655@hotmail.com
BMJ Case Reports
|June 14, 2013
Summary
A young woman experienced an acute stroke, later diagnosed as a cardiac papillary fibroelastoma on her mitral valve. Surgical removal led to full recovery, highlighting this rare tumor as a potential stroke cause.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Neurology
- Pathology
Background:
- Cerebrovascular events in young adults often lack clear risk factors.
- Cardiac tumors are an uncommon cause of embolic stroke.
Observation:
- A young woman presented with acute stroke symptoms without typical risk factors.
- Echocardiography revealed a mass on the mitral valve anterior leaflet.
- Transesophageal echocardiography confirmed a cardiac tumor.
Findings:
- Histopathology confirmed the mitral valve mass as a cardiac papillary fibroelastoma.
- The patient underwent successful surgical resection of the tumor.
Implications:
- Cardiac papillary fibroelastoma should be considered in young stroke patients.
- Early diagnosis and surgical intervention can lead to complete recovery.
- This case underscores the importance of cardiac imaging in cryptogenic stroke evaluation.
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