Papillary fibroelastoma of the tricuspid valve presenting as neonatal pulmonary haemorrhage.
Papillary fibroelastoma is a benign tumour of the cardiac valve apparatus. We present an unusual case of life-threatening pulmonary haemorrhage and disseminated intravascular coagulation in a neonate associated with this benign cardiac tumour. Papillary fibroelastoma of the tricuspid valve rarely presents in children and, to our knowledge, this is only the second reported case in a neonate. The patient was successfully managed by anticoagulation therapy followed by surgical excision of the tumour. This case illustrates the potentially fatal presentation of this benign cardiac tumour among neonates.


CONCLUSIONS
Pulmonary haemorrhage of this degree is unusual in an otherwise healthy term neonate and needs careful investigation for unusual pathology including potential sources of pulmonary emboli in the heart. We emphasize the value of echocardiography in the evaluation of unexpected pulmonary haemorrhage in the newborn.
Sridhar
A V
AV
Congenital and Paediatric Cardiac Service, Glenfield Hospital, Leicester, UK.
Bulock
F
F
Hickey
M St J
MS
Chikermane
A
A
Black
E
E
Currie
A
A
D005350:Fibroma / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006469:Hemoptysis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D014261:Tricuspid Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography