Spontaneous rupture of a papillary muscle from a papillary abscess is extremely rare. Most cases of papillarymuscle ruptures are due to myocardial infarction or trauma. We describe the clinical course of a 68-year-old manwho died from a papillary muscle rupture as a complication of a papillary muscle abscess due to Streptococcalpyogenes septicemia. (Korean Circulation J 2006;36:242-244)