Giant right atrial lipoma mimicking tamponade

Abstract

Cardiac lipomas are rarely encountered. They are mostly asymptomatic and may be discovered incidentally. We describe the case of a 56 year-old man with a presentation similar to tamponade. He had decreased heart sounds, global cardiomegaly, and oligemic lung fields. Echocardiography showed a 110 × 75-mm mass attached to the interatrial septum, almost completely occupying the right atrium. Chest computed tomography showed a large homogeneous low-attenuation mass with thin septa, originating from interatrial septum and filling the right atrium, consistent with lipoma. The patient underwent surgery for resection of the tumor. Pathologic examination was consistent with cardiac lipoma.