title: Unusual localization of a malignant fibrous histiocytoma on the mitral valve.
abstract: The present report describes the case of a 55-year-old woman who suffered from cardio-embolic stroke originating from malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) localized on the mitral valve. The patient underwent transthoracic two-/three-dimensional and transoesophageal echocardiography which demonstrated the mass protruding in the outflow tract of the left ventricle. Differential diagnosis had to be made with other masses in the left ventricle, such as thrombi, vegetations, and cardiac tumours. Surgery was performed to remove the tumour and the surgery findings confirmed echocardiographic images. Primary cardiac tumours are a rare entity, and their incidence is approximately 0.0017-0.019%. The majority of them are benign, but in a quarter of cases they are malignant. This case is an example of an MFH which caused embolism to the central nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, San Gerardo Hospital, Via Pergolesi 33, 20052 Monza, MI, Italy.
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fontana
authors.forename: Jennifer Francesca
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Sciuchetti
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Boffi
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Colagrande
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Trocino
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004452:Echocardiography; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D051677:Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology