A large false aneurysm of the right ventricle within a giant epicardial lipoma.
Lipomas, which account for approximately 10% of all neoplasms of the heart, may be detected in asymptomatic patients by chance during echocardiography, CT scan, or MRI scan. Occasionally, lipomas are complicated by arrhythmias. We describe a patient who presented with severe cardiomegaly and paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. An MRI scan showed a large intrapericardial lipoma with two large cavities inside communicating with each other and with the right ventricular chamber through a defect of the right ventricular wall. The mass was partially removed, and the right ventricle was patched. Surgery combined with antiarrhythmic therapy resulted in a good short-term result.
Bonamini
R
R
Dipartimento di Medicina Interna, Università di Torino, Torino, Italy.bonamini@molinette.unito.it
Pinneri
F
F
Cirillo
S
S
Rosettani
E
E
Mangiardi
L
L
D017541:Aneurysm, False / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D005260:Female; D006322:Heart Aneurysm / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006338:Heart Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008067:Lipoma / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010496:Pericardium / Q000473:pathology