Primary fibroelastoma of heart: A rare clinical entity

Papillary fibroelastomas are rare benign primary cardiac tumors that most commonly arise from the aortic and mitral valves, whereas tricuspid valve involvement is uncommon. A 71-year-old woman hospitalized for vaginal bleeding was referred for palpitations and elevated blood pressure. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography revealed a mobile right atrial mass measuring up to 12x12 mm, associated with the tricuspid valve and initially considered to be an atrial myxoma. Surgical excision was planned because of the tumor’s mobility and size. A short-stalked mass was completely excised through a right atriotomy under cardiopulmonary bypass without requiring tricuspid valve repair or replacement. Histopathological examination confirmed a papillary fibroelastoma. The patient’s postoperative course was uneventful, and she was discharged on postoperative day 7. This case highlights the importance of considering papillary fibroelastoma in the differential diagnosis of right-sided intracardiac masses and contributes to the literature by demonstrating the successful valve-sparing excision of a rare tricuspid valve-associated fibroelastoma.