[Tumours of the heart: diagnostic dilemma].

Introduction: Mitral annular calcification is a degenerative process of the fibrosus support structure of the mitral apparatus, usually spreading over the posterior mitral leaflet.

Case Outline: A 66-year-old woman with shortness of breath and palpitations was referred to our institution. Echocardiography showed a round, echo-dense mass, resembling a tumour, in the posterior mitral annulus, with the third degree mitral regurgitation.

The fate of the radial artery conduit in coronary artery bypass grafting surgery.

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is the standard surgical procedure for the treatment of advanced coronary artery disease. CABG surgery has been demonstrated to improve symptoms and, in specific subgroups of patients, to prolong life. Despite its success, the long-term outcome of coronary bypass surgery is strongly influenced by the fate of the vascular conduits used.

Severity of angina as a predictor of quality of life changes six months after coronary artery bypass surgery.

Background: Although the fact that chest pain has a negative influence on the quality of life is well known, it is not completely clear whether the preoperative severity of angina can be a predictor of the quality of life change after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Methods: We studied 243 consecutive patients who underwent elective CABG. The Nottingham Health Profile Questionnaire part 1 was used as the model for determination of quality of life.