Papillary fibroelastoma of the right atrial appendage: Is it that rare?

Echocardiography. 2020 Aug;37(8):1308-1311. doi: 10.1111/echo.14789. Epub 2020 Jul 11.

Abstract

Papillary fibroelastoma (PF) of the right atrium accounts for 2% of nonvalvular cases, and right appendage (RAA) PF was described only once in literature. We present three cases of RAA PF in patients with unrelated symptoms undergoing 3-dimensional transesophageal echocardiographic examination (3D-TEE) scheduled for conventional indications. Key to diagnosis in routine practice resides in systematic examination of the right atrium and RAA in live 3D-TEE imaging with backward and forward navigation of the real-time pyramidal data. A review of literature is provided. Our experience demonstrates that systematic imaging of all cardiac structures with 3D-TEE allows refining PF nosology.

Keywords: 3-dimensional transesophageal echocardiography; cardiac tumor; fibroelastoma; right atrial appendage.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Atrial Appendage* / diagnostic imaging
  • Cardiac Papillary Fibroelastoma*
  • Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional*
  • Echocardiography, Transesophageal
  • Heart Atria / diagnostic imaging
  • Humans