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.