title: Unusual and intraoperative epicardial echocardiographic features of a papillary tumour of the aortic valve.
abstract: A mass with a diameter of 0.8 cm was detected in the aortic root of a 53 year old woman during routine preoperative cross sectional echocardiographic assessment of a secundum atrial septal defect. Intraoperative epicardial echocardiography showed that the mass was attached by a slender stalk to the tip of the left coronary cusp of the aortic valve, and histological examination showed that it was a papillary tumour. Intraoperative epicardial echocardiography can help in planning the excision of papillary tumours, and excision is advised even when there are no symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff.
authors.forename: N P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Fraser
mesh_terms: D001021:Aortic Valve; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D006344:Heart Septal Defects, Atrial / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care; D008875:Middle Aged; D010212:Papilloma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery