Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 10, 2026
Cardiac Magnetic Resonance for the Evaluation of Suspected Cardiac Thrombus: Conventional and Emerging Techniques
Published on: June 11, 2019
Left Atrial Papillary Fibroelastoma Mimicking Myxoma
Omar W Aboukhatwa1, Elias Akiki1, Reto D Kurmann1
1Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
Papillary fibroelastomas (PFEs) can mimic cardiac myxomas (CM), the most common benign heart tumors. This case underscores the need for histopathology to differentiate these conditions, especially in unusual locations.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Pathology
- Cardiac Oncology
Background:
- Papillary fibroelastomas (PFEs) and cardiac myxomas (CM) are the most common primary benign cardiac tumors.
- While often asymptomatic, these tumors can present with nonspecific symptoms like dyspnea and dizziness, or acute embolic events.
Observation:
- A 66-year-old woman presented with shortness of breath and dizziness.
- Echocardiography identified a left atrial mass, initially suspected to be a cardiac myxoma.
Findings:
- Surgical removal of the left atrial mass was performed.
- Histopathologic examination unexpectedly revealed the mass to be a papillary fibroelastoma, not a cardiac myxoma.
Implications:
- This case highlights an unusual location for a PFE, mimicking a CM.
- It emphasizes the critical role of histopathologic examination for definitive diagnosis of cardiac masses, as imaging can be misleading.
- Considering PFEs in the differential diagnosis of atrial masses is crucial for accurate patient management.
More Related Videos
08:10Estimating Bilateral Atrial Function by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Feature Tracking in Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation
Published on: July 20, 2022
10:17Real-Time Cardiac Mapping with a Noninvasive Imageless Electrocardiographic Imaging System
Published on: April 11, 2025
