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Unusual Locations for Cardiac Papillary Fibroelastomas
Davide Carino1,2, Francesco Nicolini3, Alberto Molardi3
1Aortic Institute at Yale New Haven, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
The Journal of Heart Valve Disease
|August 19, 2017
Summary
Papillary fibroelastomas (PFEs), rare benign heart tumors, can cause serious complications like thromboembolic events. Surgical excision is a safe and definitive treatment for symptomatic PFEs, offering a cure.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Cardiac Surgery
- Oncology
Background:
- Papillary fibroelastomas (PFEs) are rare, benign cardiac tumors typically found on heart valves, most commonly the aortic valve.
- While often asymptomatic, PFEs can lead to severe complications, including thromboembolic events and, less frequently, valvular dysfunction.
Observation:
- This study details a miniseries of six patients who underwent surgical excision of PFEs between 2005 and 2015.
- The management of asymptomatic PFEs remains undefined, highlighting a gap in current clinical guidelines.
Findings:
- Surgical excision is the established treatment for symptomatic PFEs.
- The review of literature indicates that PFEs are a treatable cause of thromboembolic events and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cardioembolic stroke.
Implications:
- Surgical excision of PFEs is a safe and definitive procedure.
- Increased awareness of PFEs in clinical practice may improve the diagnosis and management of cardioembolic events.
- Further research is needed to define the optimal management strategy for asymptomatic PFEs.