title: An Incidentally Discovered Pedunculated Degenerative Cyst on the Aortic Valve.
abstract: We report the case of a pedunculated cystic mass on the aortic valve discovered in a patient presenting for a routine echocardiogram. The highly mobile nature of the mass warranted prompt surgical removal to prevent cardioembolic complications. The mass was preoperatively thought to be a papillary fibroelastoma. However, the patient's history, mass morphology, and histopathology pointed toward a simple degenerative cyst--previously unreported on the aortic valve. This report describes this rare finding, discusses relevant differential diagnoses, and underscores the importance of surgical intervention in such cases.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Department, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan. Electronic address: athiagar@med.wayne.edu.
authors.forename: Ashwin K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Thiagarajasubramanian
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan.
authors.forename: Sandip K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Zalawadiya
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan.
authors.forename: Luis C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Afonso
mesh_terms: D001021:Aortic Valve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003560:Cysts / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged