title: Tricuspid valve papillary fibroelastoma: an unusual cause of intermittent dyspnea.
abstract: A 67-year-old woman was referred for investigation of intermittent dyspnea, which was known for years but had been worsening over the previous 3 months. Two-dimensional echocardiography revealed the presence of a mass attached to the anterior leaflet of the tricuspid valve. The patient was successfully operated on to excise the right atrial mass and preserve the tricuspid apparatus. Morphological examination of the excised tissue led to the diagnosis of papillary fibroelastoma. Surgical treatment should be considered when such a tumor is diagnosed, even in asymptomatic patients, because of the possible risk of embolization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Rabin Medical Center, Beilinson Campus, Petah Tikva 49100, Israel.
authors.forename: Georgios P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Georghiou
authors.forename: Eldad
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Erez
authors.forename: Bernardo A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Vidne
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Aravot
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005350:Fibroma / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D014261:Tricuspid Valve; D014463:Ultrasonography