title: Mitral degenerative disease mimicking a valvular tumor: a case report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In rare cases, echo findings of degenerative valve disease is similar to valvular mass.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 56-year-old woman was evaluated for palpitation. Echocardiography revealed an 8- mm mass on the anterior mitral leaflet with minimal mitral insufficiency. Resection of the valve tumor was attempted to prevent a possible embolism. However, the lesion was not a tumor, but an aneurysm-like bulge on the anterior leaflet without chorda elongation. Triangular resection and ring annuloplasty were performed. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful. Pathological examination revealeddegenerative disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This case illustrates that a valvular mass that looks like a tumor by echocardiography may actually be degenerative regardless of the presence of mitral insufficiency.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Clinical Research Institute, Kyushu Medical Center, National Hospital Organization, Fukuoka, Japan. e.tayama@kyumed.jp.
authors.forename: Eiki
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tayama
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Clinical Research Institute, Kyushu Medical Center, National Hospital Organization, Fukuoka, Japan. tomohiro-u@kyumed.jp.
authors.forename: Tomohiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Clinical Research Institute, Kyushu Medical Center, National Hospital Organization, Fukuoka, Japan. ry_u_sky@yahoo.co.jp.
authors.forename: Ryusuke
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Clinical Research Institute, Kyushu Medical Center, National Hospital Organization, Fukuoka, Japan. imasaka@kyumed.jp.
authors.forename: Ken-ichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Imasaka
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Clinical Research Institute, Kyushu Medical Center, National Hospital Organization, Fukuoka, Japan. ytomita@kyumed.jp.
authors.forename: Yukihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tomita
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006322:Heart Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery