Aortic valve replacement in the presence of sternal metastases from prostatic carcinoma: a case report.

A 65-year-old man was admitted with New York Heart Association Class IV heart failure, refractory to maximal medical therapy. High-grade aortic insufficiency and severe left ventricular dysfunction were demonstrated by cardiac catheterization. The patient had known prostatic carcinoma with extensive metastatic involvement of the sternum. Aortic valve replacement was performed successfully through a median sternotomy incision and the patient returned to full activities.