Uninvited Guest in the Left Ventricle: Cardiac Lipoma

Cardiac lipoma is a rare primary tumor of the heart. With advances in diagnostic and treatment methods, an increasing number of cases have been reported. This trend suggests that the clinical presentation, previously believed to follow classic patterns, may actually exhibit atypical features. In such cases, multimodal imaging facilitates accurate diagnosis and the selection of the most appropriate treatment. This case report presents a 28-year-old female with progressive exertional dyspnea. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography revealed a large mass in the left ventricle, originating from the posteromedial papillary muscle. The mass exhibited a low-density focus with a well-defined boundary and regular shape and, fortunately, had no significant effect on the valves or hemodynamics. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the diagnosis of a cardiac lipoma. Although surgical intervention was offered, the patient ultimately declined the procedure. Most patients diagnosed with cardiac lipoma are asymptomatic, and the diagnosis is often made incidentally. The use of multimodality imaging greatly aids in diagnosis. Echocardiography is a suitable modality for ongoing monitoring.

Keywords: Cardiac tumors, intracardiac mass, lipoma, multimodality imaging