Fibroelastoma of the Papillary Muscle of the Mitral Valve: Diagnostic Implications and Review of the Literature
Tomaso Bottio MD, Cristina Basso MD1, Giulio Rizzoli MD, Dino Casarotto MD,
Gaetano Thiene MD

A 77-year-old woman was found to be in atrial fibrillation. Two-dimensional echocardiography revealed the presence of a mass attached to the anterior papillary muscle of the mitral valve. She was mildly symptomatic for dyspnea and asthenia. The left ventricular mass was successfully excised and the mitral valve apparatus preserved. Morphological examination of the excised tissue led to a diagnosis of papillary fibroelastoma. Surgical treatment must be considered when such a tumor is diagnosed, even though asymptomatic, and especially if left-sided because of the high risk of systemic embolization.