SHOULD RIGHT-SIDED FIBROELASTOMAS BE OPERATED UPON

There is general agreement that left-sided elastomas must be removed t o avoid systemic complications. Right-sided localization is less risky and surgical treatment is not agreed upon. We report a case of surgic al resected fibroelastoma of the tricuspid valve and discuss the indic ations to surgery by reviewing the literature on the few reported ease s. We feel that, if surgery is timely, the tumor can be resected, thus preserving the native valve. This provides an opportunity to prevent possible right-sided complications due to increasing tumor size and em bolization.