Papillary fibroelastoma of the aortic valve in association with rheumatic heart disease: a case report

• Published in: Journal of cardiothoracic surgery Vol. 11; no. 5; p. 6
• Main Authors: Shi, Jun, Bai, Zhi-xuan, Zhang, Ben-gui, Guo, Ying-qiang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 16.01.2016; BioMed Central
• Subjects: Aortic Valve - surgery; Care and treatment; Case Report; Complications and side effects; Development and progression; Female; Fibroma - complications; Fibroma - diagnosis; Fibroma - surgery; Heart Neoplasms - complications; Heart Neoplasms - diagnosis; Heart Neoplasms - surgery; Heart valve diseases; Humans; Middle Aged; Rheumatic heart disease; Rheumatic Heart Disease - complications; Rheumatic Heart Disease - diagnosis; Rheumatic Heart Disease - surgery; United States
• ISSN: 1749-8090; 1749-8090
• DOI: 10.1186/s13019-016-0410-6

Papillary fibroelastoma (PFE) is a rare primary cardiac neoplasm that is usually discovered incidentally at autopsy or during cardiac surgery. PFE combined with rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is extremely rare, and only a few cases have been reported. Additionally, the growth rate of the tumor is unknown. Here, we present a very rare case of PFE of the aortic valve combined with RHD, which were identified in a female patient who survived for 5 years without surgical intervention, and who subsequently underwent successful surgical treatment. PFEs may be generally slow-growing tumors, however, the better treatment of choice may be surgery because it produces good curative effects with very low risk of complications, while preventing serious disease consequences.