Rapidly growing mass on the tricuspid valve in an elderly woman: a diagnostic dilemma.
BACKGROUND
Papillary fibroelastoma is a rare, benign cardiac valve tumour, which can mimic conditions such as atrial myxoma and infective endocarditis.


METHODS
An elderly lady presented with shortness of breath and chest pain and a mass on echocardiogram, which was confirmed on surgical excision to be a papillary fibroelastoma.


CONCLUSIONS
There were aspects of this lady's case that caused confusion over the diagnosis and showed how rare conditions can cause diagnostic problems.
Dow
Claire
C
Royal London Hospital, Healthcare of the Elderly, London, UK. clairedow@doctors.org.uk
Warren
Kris
K
Ranjandayalan
Kula
K
Dymond
Mike
M
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001024:Aortic Valve Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000209:etiology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005350:Fibroma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D019918:Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation; D006801:Humans; D014261:Tricuspid Valve / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery