AN UNUSUAL CASE OF PAPILLARY-MUSCLE RUPTURE

A rare case of isolated papillary muscle rupture in the absence of adjacent wall motion abnormalities is presented. A 67-year-old man presented with progressive and worsening symptoms of congestive heart failure, changes in mental status, and fever. A transesophageal echocardiographic (TEE) examination revealed the presence of a mobile echogenic mass attached to a flail posterior leaflet of the mitral valve. Color Doppler examination revealed severe mitral insufficiency. The patient underwent emergency surgical mitral valve replacement and the diagnosis of isolated papillary muscle rupture was confirmed.