title: Minimal access excision of aortic valve fibroelastoma: a case report and review of the literature.
abstract: Papillary fibroelastomas are rare primary tumours of cardiac origin accounting for approximately 10% of all primary cardiac neoplasms. Due to a high thromboembolic risk, surgical excision is the mainstay of treatment in these patients and median sternotomy the most widely used approach. We describe the case of a 43 year-old lady presenting with acute myocardial infarction secondary to aortic valve papillary fibroelastoma subsequently excised using a minimal access technique. From our experience mini-sternotomy offers excellent exposure and allows for safe resection in such cases, improving cosmesis without compromising either intra or post-operative outcome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Imperial College London, St. Mary's Campus, London, UK. leanne.harling@imperial.ac.uk
authors.forename: Leanne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Harling
authors.forename: Thanos
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Athanasiou
authors.forename: Hutan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ashrafian
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kokotsakis
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nathan
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Casula
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000601:surgery; D000082882:Bicuspid Aortic Valve Disease; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000209:etiology; D056346:Sternotomy / Q000379:methods