[Papillary fibroelastoma: a rare cause of brain embolism].
A 39-year-old woman presented with weakness in the right arm and leg, and a 64-year-old woman was referred after a transient ischaemic attack. Neurological examination raised the suspicion of cerebral ischaemia due to an embolism. In both patients transthoracic echocardiography was performed to rule out the heart as a source of emboli. One patient had a stalked tumour of the mitral valve and the other had a spherical tumour of the aortic valve which was clearly seen on ultrasound examination, both tumours presumably a papillary fibroelastoma. The tumours were removed surgically while sparing the heart valves. Pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of papillary fibroelastoma in both patients. Papillary fibroelastoma is a rare benign primary cardiac tumour that is usually noticed when it has caused cerebrovascular ischaemia. Surgical excision of the tumour is the treatment of choice.
van Muiswinkel
K W
KW
Universitair Medisch Centrum Groningen, afd. Cardiothoracale chirurgie, Postbus 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen. k.van.muiswinkel@antonius.net
Meuzelaar
J J
JJ
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005350:Fibroma / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D020766:Intracranial Embolism / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010210:Papillary Muscles / Q000473:pathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome