Central retinal artery occlusion as the initial sign of aortic valve papillary fibroelastoma.

PURPOSE: We describe a central retinal artery occlusion in a young man who was subsequently found to have an aortic valve papillary fibroelastoma.

METHODS

Case report with clinical, echocardiographic, and histopathologic observations.

RESULTS

The aortic valve papillary fibroelastoma was successfully treated with tumor resection.

CONCLUSION

Appropriate investigations in young patients with central retinal artery occlusion should therefore be conducted, including transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography, to diagnose and treat this tumor, because failure to diagnose this tumor may result in further embolic events, including stroke and sudden death.