Papillary Fibroelastoma

A Sea Anemone Inside the Heart

Overview

A papillary fibroelastoma (PFE) is a type of benign primary tumor that grows on cardiac valves. These tumors typically develop on the downstream side of the affected valve and have a high embolic risk, generally without interfering with valve coaptation or mobility. Echocardiography is the imaging modality of choice to characterize these homogenous lesions and identify location, attachment point, mobility, and diameter.

In this lesson, we will delve into the assessment of the most common valvular tumor with echocardiography, illustrated by 3 unique case examples. Given the high risk of embolization, the accurate identification of papillary fibroelastomas is essential, as it prevent transient ischemic attacks, strokes, myocardial infarctions, and sudden cardiac death.

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