Surgical resection of a lipoma of the right atrium: A case report.

Abstract

Rationale: Cardiac tumors are relatively rare, with an incidence rate of 0.17% to 0.19% according to autopsy reports. The tumors may be detected through transthoracic echocardiography, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and other examinations. The treatment plan is determined based on the nature of the tumor.

Patient concerns: In this article, we report a case of a 61-year-old male who was found to have an occupying lesion in the right atrium and superior vena cava during a cardiac ultrasound examination.

Diagnoses: Enhanced CT and MRI suggested the possibility of a lipoma during admission.

Interventions: The patient underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic cardiac tumor resection under extracorporeal circulation. The postoperative pathology was consistent with lipoma.

Outcomes: The recurrence rate after cardiac lipoma excision is low, and the prognosis is generally good. However, for patients with cardiac lipomas involving ventricles and myocardial infiltration, intraoperative excision is more challenging, and the long-term outcome is poor.

Lessons: Cardiac lipomas are generally asymptomatic even in large dimensions. Echocardiograms can identify tumors, but cardiac MRI or cardiac CT can differentiate cardiac lipomas from other cardiac tumors.