Pulmonary granulomas secondary to embolic prosthetic valve material

A patient is reported with unusually severe variance of a prosthetic Beall fabricated Teflon disc valve in the tricuspid position. Foreign material was found in the vessels, vessel walls, and parenchyma of the lung associated with a foreign body type of inflammatory reaction. This material was identified by scanning electron microscopy and high energy dispersive x-ray analysis as Teflon that was embolic from the eroded valve.