Pulmonic Papillary Fibroelastoma: Cause of Recurrent Pulmonary Emboli and Treatment

Cardiac papillary fibroelastomas are rare, typically benign primary cardiac tumors.  The pulmonary valve is the least common site for valvular papillary fibroelastomas.  They commonly present with dyspnea on exertion and can show right ventricular outflow tract obstruction on echocardiography.  Embolic phenomena are one of the most serious consequences.  Treatment usually consists of surgical excision.  We report the first case of pulmonary emboli from pulmonary valve papillary fibroelastoma treated with anticoagulation.  This occurred in only the second case of pulmonary emboli from pulmonary papillary fibroelastoma reported in literature to date.