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Exophytic Atheroma Mimicking Papillary Fibroelastoma Adjacent to the Aortic Valve
Tomoki Cho1, Shigehiko Tokunaga1, Shota Yasuda2
1Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Kanagawa Cardiovascular and Respiratory Center, Yokohama, Japan.
Insights
A rare cardiac mass mimicking a papillary fibroelastoma was found to be an exophytic atheroma near the left coronary artery. Surgical removal led to an uneventful recovery, highlighting the importance of accurate diagnosis for this rare condition.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiac Surgery
- Pathology
Background:
- Alcoholic cardiomyopathy can present with cardiac masses.
- Cardiac masses near coronary ostia pose a high risk of embolism.
- Distinguishing between different types of cardiac masses is crucial for treatment.
Abstract:
Follow-up echocardiography in a 69-year-old man with alcoholic cardiomyopathy showed a mass above the aortic valve near the left coronary ostium. Transesophageal echocardiography and computed tomography suggested a papillary fibroelastoma with a high risk of embolism. At operation we found an exophytic atheroma adjacent to the left coronary artery orifice. The atheroma was removed, and the patient made an uneventful recovery. We describe this very rare case of an exophytic atheroma mimicking a papillary fibroelastoma situated at the left coronary orifice.
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