Papillary fibroelastoma of the tricuspid valve chordae

Papillary fibroelastoma (PFE) commonly involves the native valve tissue, especially that of the left side of the heart. PFE originates less commonly from the valve of the right side of the heart and rarely from the valve chordae. A 69-year-old man was admitted to our hospital complaining of chest discomfort in October 2005. Transthoracic echocardiography showed a highly mobile round mass measuring approximately 10 mm in diameter in the right ventricle. He underwent urgent surgery. The tumor was located at the middle of the tricuspid valve chordae and was excised under cardiopulmonary bypass with cardiac arrest. He had an uneventful recovery and was discharged from the hospital 15 days after surgery. The patient has been asymptomatic and remains well without tumor recurrence 7 months after surgery.