Mitral degenerative disease mimicking a valvular tumor: a case report.

BACKGROUND: In rare cases, echo findings of degenerative valve disease is similar to valvular mass.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 56-year-old woman was evaluated for palpitation. Echocardiography revealed an 8- mm mass on the anterior mitral leaflet with minimal mitral insufficiency. Resection of the valve tumor was attempted to prevent a possible embolism. However, the lesion was not a tumor, but an aneurysm-like bulge on the anterior leaflet without chorda elongation. Triangular resection and ring annuloplasty were performed. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful. Pathological examination revealeddegenerative disease.

CONCLUSIONS: This case illustrates that a valvular mass that looks like a tumor by echocardiography may actually be degenerative regardless of the presence of mitral insufficiency.