Introduction
Whipple’s disease is a rare multi-system illness that classically
presents with gastrointestinal symptoms, polyarthropathy, and central
nervous system involvement in later stages [1]. Whipple Endocarditis
is a rare cause of culture-negative subacute endocarditis. The first
report of T. whipplei isolated from the aortic valve of a patient
with blood-culture negative endocarditis was in 2000 [2]. Since
then, 170 cases have been reported in the literature. It is not uncommon
for Whipple endocarditis to present with arthralgia and heart failure
without the classic features of Whipple’s disease. The average age of
presentation is 57 years, with male sex predominance. Valvular lesions
most commonly involve the aortic valve, but multiple valves can also be
infected [3].
On the other hand, calcified amorphous tumor (CAT) is a rare
non-neoplastic hamartomatous mass of the heart. The majority of reported
cases involve the mitral valve, with only a few reported cases arising
from the aortic valve. Pathologically, these tumors are described as
nodular calcium deposits with a background of fibrous tissue and chronic
inflammatory cells [4]. Clinically, most patients are asymptomatic,
but about 56% have obstructive symptoms, embolization, and/or syncope
[5].