The role of intraoperative transoesophageal echocardiography in the diagnosis and management of a rare multiple fibroelastoma of aortic valve: a case report and review of literature

Papillary fibroelastoma is the third most common primary tumour of the heart that usually involves the cardiac valves. Multiple papillary fibroelastomas are extremely rare. We report a case with multiple valve papillary fibroelastoma which was identified only by intraoperative transoesophageal echocardiography. The patient complained of atypical chest pains. She was affected by coronary artery disease and had previously had a myocardial infarct. This finding dictated a change in the operative approach. The aortic valve resection was performed in addition to coronary revascularization. If the intraoperative transoesophageal echocardiography was not performed, our patient would have had just coronary artery bypass graft surgery, probably without solving the symptoms. Furthermore, in future she would have undergone another cardiac operation for resection of aortic masses and valve replacement. The intraoperative use of Transoesophageal Echocardiography improves the diagnosis and the management of all cardiac surgical patients.