Tissue characterization of a papillary fibroelastoma on the aortic valve by contrast-enhanced 320-detector row computed tomography

A 56-year-old woman with a mass on the aortic valve as seen on echocardiogram underwent pre-operative contrast-enhanced cardiac computed tomography prior to removal. The mass was confirmed to be a papillary fibroelastoma histologically. Spatial co-registration between the contrast-enhanced CT cross-sectional images of the mass and the Movat's pentachrome staining revealed an association of elastic fibers with higher levels of attenuation and collagen fibers with lower levels of attenuation on CT.