Splenic infarction associated with a mobile aortic valve lesion: a case report and review of the literature.

The present report describes a 67-year-old woman with a mobile aortic valve lesion discovered by transesophageal echocardiography performed in the setting of abdominal pain. Definitive identification of the lesion was not possible by transesophageal echocardiography alone. Pathological examination of the excised lesion led to the diagnosis of papillary fibroelastoma (PFE). PFEs are rare benign tumours that primarily affect cardiac valves. Because left-sided PFEs are associated with a high risk of systemic embolization including cerebral ischemia and myocardial infarction, they require preventive surgical correction. The present case of PFE is reviewed for a better understanding of its pathology.