Non-infectious endocarditis, atypical presentation, simulating an infiltrative tumor with coronary vascularization

Abstract

Non-infective endocarditis is a rare pathological process, primarily associated with autoimmune diseases and neoplasms. Diagnosis is established by ruling out infectious endocarditis and cardiac tumors, such as myxoma or sarcomas. However, it is unusual to find highly vascularized vegetations, and even more unusual for this vascularization to originate from the main coronary arteries. We present a clinical case of a patient with a mass found in the left atrium, which was highly vascularized by the circumflex artery, leading to suspicion of an intracardiac tumor. The patient underwent tumor resection, and histopathological analysis revealed findings consistent with endocarditis.