Multimodality Imaging of an Unusual Case of Right Ventricular Lipoma

Abstract

A 57-year-old man presented with mild dyspnea and fatigue on exertion. He had a history of hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The results of the physical examination were normal, with the exception of a grade II ejection systolic murmur over the aortic area. ECG showed normal sinus rhythm. An echocardiogram was performed for evaluation of cardiac murmur.Transthoracic echocardiogram showed a bicuspid aortic valve, with mild aortic stenosis (peak gradient, 16 mm Hg), but no regurgitation. Cardiac function was normal. Incidentally, an echogenic mass measuring 4.0ϫ2.5 cm was seen adherent to the right ventricular (RV) free wall and RV outflow tract ( Figure 1 and Movie I in the online-only Data Supplement).To further characterize the mass, the patient underwent cardiovascular MRI. Cine steady-state free precession imaging demonstrated normal ventricles and low normal left ventricle systolic function. A well-defined, lobulated mass was seen in the anterosuperior aspect of the RV free wall, extending to the RV outflow tract. The mass had an intermediate signal in steadystate free precession images and a high signal in T1-and T2-weighted images, and it showed signal dropout with fat saturation sequences (Figure 2A and 2B and Movie II in the online-only Data Supplement). There was no evidence of pericardial invasion. First-pass perfusion imaging showed no perfusion in the mass ( Figure 2C). Regional wall motion near the mass was normal. Based on these imaging characteristics, a diagnosis of cardiac lipoma involving the RV outflow tract was made, and the patient was scheduled for follow-up imaging.A follow-up echocardiogram performed 3 months later showed a mild increase in the size of the mass, as a result of which surgery was planned. Preoperative cardiac catheterization showed mild to moderate stenosis of the left anterior descending artery, but did not show any compression of the right coronary artery by the RV mass. Operative findings showed a large, lobulated fatty mass in the RV free wall that protruded into the cavity and infiltrated the myocardium, but the acute margin of the RV and the pulmonic valve were spared. Surgical resection with patch reconstruction was performed. Histopathology

Infiltrating Lipoma of the Right Ventricle Involving the Interventricular Septum and Tricuspid Valve

“…Of all cases of cardiac lipoma, only 10 tumors were found in the right ventricle (4.8%), of these, 6 patients were from case reports and the other 4 cases were reported respectively in 2 large-scale retrospective studies. 14–21 These articles were selected for review and are summarized below in the discussion of the literature (Table 2). In the present case study, during surgery, a lipoma was identified on the apex of the RV and the right side of IVS, which involved the chordae of the tricuspid valve, and the location was consistent only with the findings of Nishi.…”

Infiltrating Lipoma of the Right Ventricle Involving the Interventricular Septum and Tricuspid Valve: Report of a Rare Case and Literature Review

“…Of all cases of cardiac lipoma, only 10 tumors were found in the right ventricle (4.8%), of these, 6 patients were from case reports and the other 4 cases were reported respectively in 2 large-scale retrospective studies. [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21] These articles were selected for review and are summarized below in the discussion of the literature (Table 2). In the present case study, during surgery, a lipoma was identified on the apex of the RV and the right side of IVS, which involved the chordae of the tricuspid valve, and the location was consistent only with the findings of Nishi.…”

A rare case of obstructive right atrial lipoma

“…Chest x-rays revealed no signs of cardiomegaly or pulmonary oedema. The electrocardiography showed a sinus rhythm with premature atrial complexes and T wave abnormalities from lead V 4 to lead V 6 .…”

“…1,2 According to the literature, 25% of cardiac lipomas are intramyocardial, 25% are extracavitary of epicardial origin and 50% are intracavitary of subendocardial origin; those of the right atrium are extremely rare. 5,6 Case HistoryA 71-year-old Caucasian woman presented to the emergency department with acute exacerbation of a 2-year history of recurrent dyspnoea and a new onset manifestation of hypertensive crisis. She did not complain of angina.…”

“…1,2 According to the literature, 25% of cardiac lipomas are intramyocardial, 25% are extracavitary of epicardial origin and 50% are intracavitary of subendocardial origin; those of the right atrium are extremely rare. 5,6 Case History…”