Late diagnosis of multiple fibroelastomas in a 41-year-old woman with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and atrial fibrillation.

A 39 year old woman with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with severe latent obstruction and mitral regurgitation, presented with symptoms of dyspnea and atrial fibrillation, and developed an acute embolic stroke. After thrombolysis and complete neurologic recovery, a transesophageal echo revealed six mobile densities, on her mitral and aortic valves, and in the outflow tract. Surgical resection of multiple fibroelastomas, with septal myectomy, aortic and mitral valve replacement, and pulmonary vein ablation, led to clinical improvement. The etiology and pathogenesis of fibroelastomas are unknown; we speculate that their formation may be promoted by endocardial injury from surgery, radiation therapy, or the high velocity turbulent flow of valve dysfunction or outflow tract obstruction.