METHODS
We have performed a search of the English literature, through PubMed and
Medline, to identify all cases of BCs involving the MV, MV apparatus and
tricuspid, aortic and pulmonary valves that have been so far reported.
Articles in textbooks and meeting abstracts were excluded, as well as
cases included in general reviews of cardiac tumors or clinical reports,
when detailed clinical and pathological information on BCs, when
present, was lacking. Cases of valvular cysts but with uncertain
histological diagnosis were excluded. The reference sections of
pertinent articles were also evaluated as well as personal files and the
archives of journals available on the CTSNet website. All reported cases
observed in the pediatric population were excluded, considering only
those occurring in patients ≥18 years of age.
Main terms used in the literature search, alone or in combination, were:
intracardiac cyst, valvular cyst, blood cyst, blood-filled cyst,
pedunculated cysts, mitral valve, mitral valve apparatus, mitral valve
leaflet, tricuspid valve (TV), papillary muscle, chordae tendineae,
aortic valve (AV), pulmonary valve (PV), semilunar valve, valve cusps,
atrio-ventricular valve, semilunar valve.
Approval by the Ethical Committees was not required for this kind of
study, as well as informed patient consent, provided that all relative
data were treated anonymously.