Giant papillary fibroelastoma of the right atrium: an unusual presentation

Crestanello, Juan A MD
Orszulak, Thomas A MD

^aDivision of Cardiovascular Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA

Accepted for publication May 19 2002

^*Address reprint requests to Dr Orszulak, Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Mayo Clinic, 200 First St SW, Rochester, MN 55905USA; e-mail: [email protected]

The Annals of Thoracic Surgery 74(4):p 1252-1254, October 2002. | DOI: 10.1016/S0003-4975(02)03816-X

Papillary fibroelastomas are small tumors of the valvular endocardium with a propensity to embolize. Fibroelastomas originating in the nonvalvular endocardium are rare. We report a giant papillary fibroelastoma of the right atrial septum presenting with hemodynamic compromise that resolved after surgical excision. The current literature and the diagnostic and therapeutic strategies are reviewed.