Cardiac Myxoma
Cardiac Myxoma Joseph J. Maleszewski, M.D. Allen P. Burke, M.D. Definition and Histogenesis Cardiac myxoma is a benign neoplasm characterized by stellate, ovoid, or plump spindle cells (so-called myxoma cells)…
Pediatric and Congenital Tumors
Pediatric and Congenital Tumors Joseph J. Maleszewski, M.D. Allen P. Burke, M.D. General Incidence Pediatric heart tumors are rare and are the primary indication in <1% of heart surgeries in…
Cardiac Thrombi and Pseudotumors
Cardiac Thrombi and Pseudotumors Joseph J. Maleszewski, M.D. Allen P. Burke, M.D. Mural Thrombi Clinical Features and Pathogenesis Thrombosis may occur in any cardiac chamber and evolve from acute masses…
Prosthetic Heart Valves
Prosthetic Heart Valves Allen P. Burke, M.D. Background Starr and Edwards described the first successful prosthetic valve replacement in 1961.1 The ball-and-cage mechanical prosthesis was replaced by the (single) tilting…
Endocarditis
Endocarditis Joseph J. Maleszewski, M.D. Fabio R. Tavora, M.D., Ph.D. Allen P. Burke, M.D. Infectious Endocarditis Terminology Infectious (or infective) endocarditis denotes a bacterial or fungal infection of the endocardium….
Mitral Insufficiency
Mitral Insufficiency Allen P. Burke, M.D. Etiology Similar to the aortic valve, regurgitation of the mitral valve may be caused by intrinsic mitral valve disease (myxoid degeneration resulting in prolapse),…
Chronic Rheumatic and Autoimmune Valve Disease
Chronic Rheumatic and Autoimmune Valve Disease Allen P. Burke, M.D. Introduction Postrheumatic or postinflammatory valve disease refers to scarring of the valve that occurs secondary to an autoimmune reaction following…
Carcinoid Heart Disease
Carcinoid Heart Disease Allen P. Burke, M.D. Fabio R. Tavora, M.D., Ph.D. Pathogenesis Carcinoid heart disease occurs when active secretory products of lowgrade neuroendocrine tumors damage the endocardium of the…
Aortic Insufficiency
Aortic Insufficiency Allen P. Burke, M.D. Fabio R. Tavora, M.D., Ph.D. Etiology In the previous century, aortic insufficiency was most commonly secondary to postinflammatory (rheumatic) valve disease. Postinflammatory fibrosis causes…
Degenerative Valve Disease-Calcific Aortic Stenosis and Mitral Annular Calcification
Degenerative Valve Disease-Calcific Aortic Stenosis and Mitral Annular Calcification Allen P. Burke, M.D. Joseph J. Maleszewski, M.D. Introduction Degenerative aortic valve disease extensively involves the cusps themselves and results in…
