RAPID DEVELOPMENT OF A PAPILLARY FIBROELASTOMA WITH ASSOCIATED THROMBUS - THE ROLE OF TRANSTHORACIC AND TRANSESOPHAGEAL ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY

Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and transesophageal echocardiogra phy (TEE) are frequently utilized in patient's with suspected cerebral vascular ischemia. We describe a patient with suspected cerebral vasc ular ischemic event whom was found to have a mobile valvular mass by T TE and TEE. The lesion was unusual due to its rapid development over a period 6 months, which was documented on serial echocardiography. The mass was excised surgically and pathology showed a papillary fibroela stoma with extensive thrombus. The differential diagnosis of a cardiac valvular mass and the treatment of cardiac fibroelastomas are reviewe d. In this case, both TTE and TEE were valuable in diagnosis and facil itating surgical management of a cardiac fibroelastoma.