A papillary fibroelastoma of the aortic valve that presented with repeated chest pain.

A 70-year-old woman without any previous history of heart disease was referred to our hospital for repeated chest discomfort. She had experienced temporary hemiparesis because of a cerebral infarction of unknown etiology. Clinical evaluations were all within normal limits except for echocardiography. There was a mobile tumor in her ascending aorta, about 15 mm in diameter, adhering to a part of the right coronary cusp on its aortic side. Urgent surgery was performed. The tumor was attached to the edge of the right coronary cusp and excised with a part of the right coronary cusp, which was then repaired. Histological examination revealed the tumor to be a papillary fibroelastoma. The chest discomfort responsible for admission disappeared after the operation. In patients with events that may be embolic in nature and are not explained by other cardiovascular or neurological diseases, a cardiac source of emboli should be considered.