Rapidly growing mass on the tricuspid valve in an elderly woman: a diagnostic dilemma.

BACKGROUND: Papillary fibroelastoma is a rare, benign cardiac valve tumour, which can mimic conditions such as atrial myxoma and infective endocarditis. CASE REPORT: An elderly lady presented with shortness of breath and chest pain and a mass on echocardiogram, which was confirmed on surgical excision to be a papillary fibroelastoma. DISCUSSION: There were aspects of this lady's case that caused confusion over the diagnosis and showed how rare conditions can cause diagnostic problems.