Papillary fibroelastoma of the aortic valve: evaluation with transesophageal echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging.

A 74-year-old Japanese male was admitted to hospital with episodes of chest pain. Cross-sectional echocardiography showed a mobile mass adherent to the noncoronary cusp of the aortic valve. We employed transesophageal echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging to evaluate the mass. Based on the findings, a papillary fibroelastoma of the aortic valve was suspected. To avoid systemic embolization, urgent surgery was performed. The histopathologic diagnosis was papillary fibroelastoma. When a tumor of the aortic valve exists, these examinations are useful in detecting and characterizing the tumor for optimal treatment.