Cardiovasc Imaging Asia.  2024 Oct;8(4):81-83. 10.22468/cvia.2024.00115.

A Case of Epicardial Lipomatous Hypertrophy: A Mimicker of Pericardial Mass

• Chin KM
• Chen TM
• Amin NHM

• KMID: 2561305
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.22468/cvia.2024.00115

Abstract

Epicardial lipomatous hypertrophy (ELH) is a rare histologically benign condition characterized by excessive accumulation of epicardial fat. We report a case of a 68-year-old female who experienced reduced effort tolerance for the past year. A transthoracic echocardiogram revealed a suspicious circumferential mass around the heart. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) was subsequently performed and identified a 13- to 15-mm-thick layer of epicardial fat surrounding the myocardium, with a small pericardial effusion at the lateral wall. Cardiac function was preserved, and her symptoms were ultimately attributed to atherosclerotic coronary disease, which was treated accordingly. This case highlights the importance of using complimentary multimodal imaging such as CMR, to differentiate between ELH and others, for accurate diagnosis and further management.

Keyword

Epicardial; Hypertrophy; Lipomatous; Mass; Pericardial