Introduction
Cardiac lipomas account for about 10% of all primary benign cardiac
tumors. Lipomas are composed of mature adipocytes and can form in any
part of the heart. Lipomas are encapsulated and well surrounded tumors,
and often they are benign and slow growing. Most lipomas occur in the
right atrium or left ventricle. Lipomas originating from the
sub-endocardium can cause obstruction, and those originating from the
myocardium can cause arrhythmias. And in sub-epicardial cases, they can
cause pressure on the coronary arteries or the pericardial space.
Cardiac lipomas are usually asymptomatic and are therefore often found
incidentally. In symptomatic cases, the patient’s symptoms depend on the
location of the mass and obstruction in the cavities or valves of the
heart.(1, 2)