Infected multiple fibroelastomas in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Cardiac papillary fibroelastomas are rare benign tumors of the heart with potential for life-threatening complications. The incidence of multiple lesions is less than 10% of all reported cases. Preoperative transesophageal echocardiography is important for detecting all cardiac sites involving this tumor, because excision of all such tumors must be performed to prevent serious complications.

[Chronic dissection of the aorta after coronary bypass surgery].

Dissection of the aorta is a potential complication of all forms of cardiac surgery. It occurs after a variable interval. When observed in the long term, surgery may be complex with greater technical difficulties resulting in increased postoperative morbidity and mortality compared with other types of dissection.

[Primary cardiac lymphoma: diagnosis and treatment. Report of 6 cases and review of the literature].

Primary cardiac lymphoma (PCL) is the rarest primary cardiac tumour and carries a poor prognosis. Early diagnosis, often difficult, to introduce appropriate treatment as soon as possible, seems to have a positive impact on prognosis. The authors report their experience of 6 patients with PCL.

Mitral valve replacement in idiopathic eosinophilic endocarditis without peripheral eosinophilia.

Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome (IHS) is a rare systemic disease than can cause multiple organ failure by eosinophilic infiltration. Cardiac involvement is characterized by endocardial fibrosis and overlying thrombus leading to restrictive cardiomyopathy and valvular dysfunction. The absence of peripheral eosinophilia does not exclude eosinophilic cardiac involvement.

Mitral valve repair in idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome.

Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome is a rare systemic disease than can cause multiple organ failure by eosinophilic infiltration. Cardiac involvement is characterized by endocardial fibrosis and overlying thrombus, leading to restrictive cardiomyopathy and valvular dysfunction. Surgical experience of patients with mitral dysfunction caused by this syndrome is limited, and valvular replacement is most often performed.